THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE 


SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


Urafoian  Entertainment 


BT 

GEORGE  MEREDITH 


REVISED  EDITION 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 
1923 


COFHUGHT,  1898,  BT 

GEORGE  MEREDITH 


Printed  in  tne  United  States  of  America 


College 
Library 

PR 


CONTENTS         55^ 

.  I^S 

THE   SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

PASC 

THE   THWACKINGS 1 

THE   STORY  OF   BHANAVAR   THE  BEAUTIFUL  .      . 

THE   BETROTHAL 

PUNISHMENT  OF   8HAHPE8H,   THE    PERSIAN,   ON   KHIPIL,  THE 

BUILDER 93 

THE   GENIE   KARAZ      . 99 

THE  WELL   OF   PARAYID 105 

THE   HORSE   GARRAVEEN 109 

THE   TALKING   HAWK 114 

GOORELKA   OF   OOLB          120 

THE   LILY  OF   THE   ENCHANTED  SEA 125 

STORY  OF   NOORNA    BIN    NOORKA,   THE    GENIE    KARAZ,    AND 

THE   PRINCESS   OF   OOLB 131 

THE   WILES   OF   RABESQURAT 146 

THE   PALACE   OF   AKLIS 162 

THE   SONS   OF   AKLIS 169 

THE   SWORD   OF   AKLIS 178 

KOOROOKH , .  183 


1157279 


Vi  CONTENTS 

••»• 

THE   VEILED   FIGURE. 189 

THE   BOSOM   OF   NOORNA 193 

THE   REVIVAL 197 

THE   PLOT 201 

THE   DISH   OF   POMEGRANATE   GRAIN 208 

THE   BURNING   OF   THE   IDENTICAL 227 

THE   FLASHES   OF   THE   BLADE ,  236 

CONCLUSION 244 


THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE  THWACKINGS 

IT  was  ordained  that  Shibli  Bagarag,  nephew  to  the  re- 
nowned Baba  Mustapha,  chief  barber  to  the  Court  of  Persia, 
should  shave  Shagpat,  the  son  of  Shimpoor,  the  son  of 
Shoolpi,  the  son  of  Shullum ;  and  they  had  been  clothiers 
for  generations,  even  to  the  time  of  Shagpat,  the  illustrious. 
Now,  the  story  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  of  the  ball  he  fol- 
lowed, and  of  the  subterranean  kingdom  he  came  to,  and 
of  the  enchanted  palace  he  entered,  and  of  the  sleeping 
king  he  shaved,  and  of  the  two  princesses  he  released, 
and  of  the  Afrite  held  in  subjection  by  the  arts  of  one  and 
bottled  by  her,  is  it  not  known  as  't  were  written  on  the 
finger-nails  of  men  and  traced  in  their  corner-robes?  As 
the  poet  says : 

Ripe^with  oft  telling  and  old  is  the  tale, 

But 't  is  of  the  sort  that  can  never  grow  stale. 

Now,  things  were  in  that  condition  with  Shibli  Bagarag, 
that  on  a  certain  day  he  was  hungry  and  abject,  and  the 
city  of  Shagpat  the  clothier  was  before  him ;  so  he  made 
toward  it,  deliberating  as  to  how  he  should  procure  a  meal, 
for  he  had  not  a  dirhem  in  his  girdle,  and  the  remembrance 
of  great  dishes  and  savoury  ingredients  were  to  him  as 
the  illusion  of  rivers  sheening  on  the  sands  to  travellers 
gasping  with  thirst. 

And  he  considered  his  case,  crying,  "Surely  this  comes 
of  wandering,  and  't  is  the  curse  of  the  inquiring  spirit ! 
for  in  Shiraz,  where  my  craft  is  in  favour,  I  should  be 
Bitting  now  with  my  uncle,  Baba  Mustapha,  the  loquacious 

1 


2  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAQPAT 

one,  cross-legged,  partaking  of  seasoned  sweet  dishes,  dip- 
ping my  fingers  in  them,  rejoicing  my  soul  with  scandal  of 
the  Court ! " 

Now,  he  came  to  a  knoll  of  sand  under  a  palm,  from 
which  the  yellow  domes  and  mosques  of  the  city  of  Shag- 
pat,  and  its  black  cypresses,  and  marble  palace  fronts,  and 
shining  pillars,  and  lofty  carven  arches  that  spanned  half- 
circles  of  the  hot  grey  sky,  were  plainly  visible.  Then 
gazed  he  awhile  despondingly  on  the  city  of  Shagpat,  and 
groaned  in  contemplation  of  his  evil  plight,  as  is  said  by 
the  poet: 

The  curse  of  sorrow  is  comparison ! 

As  the  son  casteth  shade,  night  showeth  star, 
We,  measuring  what  we  were  by  what  we  are, 

Behold  the  depth  to  which  we  are  undone. 

Wherefore  he  counselleth : 

Look  neither  too  much  up,  nor  down  at  all, 
Bat,  forward  stepping,  strive  no  more  to  falL 

And  the  advice  is  excellent;  but,  as  is  again  said: 

The  preacher  preacheth,  and  the  hearer  heareth, 
Bat  comfort  first  each  function  reqoireth. 

And  "wisdom  to  a  hungry  stomach  is  thin  pottage,"  saith 
the  shrewd  reader  of  men.  Little  comfort  was  there  with 
Shibli  Bagarag,  as  he  looked  on  the  city  of  Shagpat  the 
clothier  !  He  cried  aloud  that  his  evil  chance  had  got  the 
better  of  him,  and  rolled  his  body  in  the  sand,  beating  his 
breast,  and  conjuring  up  images  of  the  profusion  of  dain- 
ties and  the  abundance  of  provision  in  Shiraz,  exclaiming, 
"  Well-a-way  and  woe  's  me !  this  it  is  to  be  selected  for 
the  diversion  of  him  that  plotteth  against  man."  Truly  is 
it  written : 

On  different  heads  misfortunes  come : 
One  bears  them  firm,  another  faints, 

While  this  one  hangs  them  like  a  drum 
Whereon  to  batter  loud  complaints. 

And  of  the  three  kinds,  they  who  bang  the  drum  outnum- 
ber the  silent  ones  as  do  the  billows  of  the  sea  the  ships 


THE  THWACKINGS  «T 

that  swim,  or  the  grains  of  sand  the  trees  that  grow;  a 
noisy  multitude. 

Now,  he  was  in  the  pits  of  despondency,  even  as  one 
that  yieldeth  without  further  struggle  to  the  waves  of 
tempest  at  midnight,  when  he  was  ware  of  one  standing 
over  him,  —  a  woman,  old,  wrinkled,  a  very  crone,  with 
but  room  for  the  drawing  of  a  thread  between  her  nose 
and  her  chin;  she  was,  as  is  cited  of  them  who  betray  the 
doings  of  Time, 

Wrinkled  at  the  rind,  and  overripe  at  the  core, 

and  every  part  of  her  nodded  and  shook  like  a  tree  sapped 
by  the  waters,  and  her  joints  were  sharp  as  the  hind-legs 
of  a  grasshopper;  she  was  indeed  one  close-wrecked  upon 
the  rocks  of  Time. 

Now,  when  the  old  woman  had  scanned  Shibli  Bagarag, 
she  called  to  him,  "  0  thou  !  what  is  it  with  thee,  that 
thou  rollest  as  one  reft  of  his  wits?" 

He  answered  her,  "  I  bewail  my  condition,  which  is  beg- 
gary, and  the  lack  of  that  which  filleth  with  pleasantness." 

So  the  old  woman  said,  "Tell  me  thy  case." 

He  answered  her,  "  0  old  woman,  surely  it  was  written 
at  my  birth  that  I  should  take  ruin  from  the  readers  of 
planets.  Now,  they  proclaimed  that  I  was  one  day  des- 
tined for  great  things,  if  I  stood  by  my  tackle,  I,  a  barber. 
Know  then,  that  I  have  had  many  offers  and  bribes,  seduc- 
tive ones,  from  the  rich  and  the  exalted  in  rank;  and  I 
heeded  them  not,  mindful  of  what  was  foretold  of  me.  I 
stood  by  my  tackle  as  a  warrior  standeth  by  his  arms, 
flourishing  them.  Now,  when  I  found  great  things  came 
not  to  me,  and  't  was  the  continuance  of  sameness  and 
satiety  with  Baba  Mustapha,  my  uncle,  in  Shiraz,  — the 
tongue-wagger,  the  endless  tattler,  —  surely  I  was  advised 
by  the  words  of  the  poet  to  go  forth  in  search  of  what  was 
wanting,  and  he  says : 

'Thou  that  dreamest  an  Event, 
While  Circumstance  is  but  a  waste  of  sand, 
Arise,  take  up  thy  fortunes  in  thy  hand, 

And  daily  forward  pitch  thy  tent.' 

Now,  I  passed  from  city  to  city,  proclaiming  my  science, 
holding  aloft  my  tackle.  Wullahy !  many  adventures  were 


4  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

mine,  and  if  there  's  some  day  propitiousness  in  fortune, 
O  old  woman,  I  '11  tell  thee  of  what  befell  me  in  the  king- 
dom of  Shah  Shamshureen :  't  is  wondrous,  a  matter  to 
draw  down  the  lower  jaw  with  amazement!  Now,  so  it 
was,  that  in  the  eyes  of  one  city  I  was  honoured  and  in 
request,  by  reason  of  my  calling,  and  I  fared  sumptuously, 
even  as  a  great  officer  of  state  surrounded  by  slaves,  loung- 
ing upon  clouds  of  silk  stuffs,  circled  by  attentive  ears :  in 
another  city  there  was  no  beast  so  base  as  I.  Wah!  I 
was  one  hunted  of  men  and  an  abomination;  no  housing 
for  me,  nought  to  operate  upon.  I  was  the  lean  dog  that 
lieth  in  wait  for  offal.  It  seemeth  certain,  0  old  woman, 
that  a  curse  hath  fallen  on  barbercraft  in  these  days,  be- 
cause of  the  Identical,  whose  might  I  know  not.  Every- 
where it  is  growing  in  disrepute;  'tis  languishing! 
Nevertheless  till  now  I  have  preserved  my  tackle,  and  I 
would  descend  on  yonder  city  to  exercise  it,  even  for  a 
livelihood,  forgetting  awhile  great  things,  but  that  I  dread 
men  may  have  changed  there  also,  —  and  there  's  no  sta- 
bility in  them ,  I  call  Allah  (whose  name  be  praised !)  to 
witness;  so  should  I  be  a  thing  unsightly,  subject  to  hate- 
ful castigation;  wherefore  is  it  that  I  am  in  that  state 
described  by  the  poet,  when, 

'  Dreading  retreat,  dreading  advance  to  make, 
Bound  we  revolve,  like  to  the  wounded  snake.' 

Is  not  my  case  now  a  piteous  one,  one  that  toucheth  the 
tender  corner  in  man  and  woman?  " 

When  she  that  listened  had  heard  him  to  an  end,  she 
shook  her  garments,  crying,  "O  youth,  son  of  my  uncle, 
be  comforted !  for,  if  it  is  as  I  think,  the  readers  of  planets 
were  right,  and  thou  art  thus  early  within  reach  of  great 
things  —  nigh  grasping  them." 

Then  she  fell  to  mumbling  and  reciting  jigs  of  verse, 
quaint  measures;  and  she  pored  along  the  sand  to  where  a 
line  had  been  drawn,  and  saw  that  the  footprints  of  the 
youth  were  traced  along  it.  Lo,  at  that  sight  she  clapped 
her  hands  joyfully,  and  ran  up  to  the  youth,  and  peered 
in  his  face,  exclaiming,  "Great  things  indeed!  and  praise 
thou  the  readers  of  planets,  O  nephew  of  the  barber,  — 
they  that  sent  thee  searching  the  Event  thou  art  to  master. 


THE  THWACKTNGS  5 

Wullahy!  have  I  not  half  a  mind  to  call  thee  already 
Master  of  the  Event?" 

Then  she  abated  somewhat  in  her  liveliness,  and  said 
to  him,  "Know  that  the  city  thou  seest  is  the  city  of 
Shagpat,  the  clothier,  and  there  's  no  one  living  on  the 
face  of  earth,  nor  a  soul  that  requireth  thy  craft  more  than 
he.  Go  therefore  thou,  bold  of  heart,  brisk,  full  of  the 
sprightliness  of  the  barber,  and  enter  to  him.  Lo,  thou  'It 
see  him  lolling  in  his  shop-front  to  be  admired  of  this 
people  —  marvelled  at.  Oh!  no  mistaking  of  Shagpat, 
and  the  mole  might  discern  Shagpat  among  myriads  of  our 
kind;  and  enter  thou  to  him  gaily,  as  to  perform  a  friendly 
office,  one  meriting  thanks  and  gratulations,saying,  *  I  will 
preserve  thee  the  Identical ! '  Now  he  '11  at  first  feign  not 
to  understand  thee,  dense  of  wit  that  he  is !  but  mince  not 
matters  with  him,  perform  well  thy  operation,  and  thou 
wilt  come  to  great  things.  What  say  I?  'tis  certain  that 
when  thou  hast  shaved  Shagpat  thou  wilt  have  achieved 
the  greatest  of  things,  and  be  most  noteworthy  of  thy 
race,  —  thou,  Shibli  Bagarag,  even  thou  !  and  thou  wilt  be 
Master  of  the  Event,  so  named  in  anecdotes  and  histories 
and  records,  to  all  succeeding  generations." 

At  her  words  the  breast  of  Shibli  Bagarag  took  in  a 
great  wind,  and  he  hung  his  head  a  moment  to  ponder 
them;  and  he  thought,  "There's  provokingness  in  the 
speech  of  this  old  woman,  and  she  's  one  that  instigateth 
keenly.  She  called  me  by  my  name!  Heard  I  that? 
'T  is  a  mystery !  "  And  he  thought,  "  Peradventure  she 
is  a  Genie,  one  of  an  ill  tribe,  and  she  's  luring  me  to 
my  perdition  in  this  city!  How  if  that  be  so?"  And 
again  he  thought,  "  It  cannot  be !  She 's  probably  the 
Genie  that  presided  over  my  birth,  and  promised  me  dower 
of  great  things  through  the  mouths  of  the  readers  of 
planets." 

Now,  when  Shibli  Bagarag  had  so  deliberated,  he  lifted 
his  sight,  and  lo,  the  old  woman  was  no  longer  before  him  I 
He  stared,  and  rubbed  his  eyes,  but  she  was  clean  gone. 
Then  ran  he  to  the  knolls  and  eminences  that  were  scat- 
tered about,  to  command  a  view,  but  she  was  nowhere 
visible.  So  he  thought,  "  'T  was  a  dream  !  "  and  he  was 
composing  himself  to  despair  upon  the  scant  herbage  of 


6  THE  SHAVING  OP   SHAGPAT 

one  of  those  knolls,  when  as  he  chanced  to  gaze  down  the 
city  below,  he  saw  there  a  commotion  and  a  crowd  of  people 
flocking  oneway;  he  thought,  W'T  was  surely  no  dream? 
come  not  Genii,  and  go  they  not,  in  the  fashion  of  that  old 
woman?  I  '11  even  descend  on  yonder  city,  and  try  my 
tackle  on  Shagpat,  inquiring  for  him,  and  if  he  is  there, 
I  shall  know  I  have  had  to  do  with  a  potent  spirit.  Allah 
protect  me ! " 

So,  having  shut  together  the  clasps  of  resolve,  he  arose 
and  made  for  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  entered  it  by  the 
principal  entrance.  It  was  a  fair  city,  the  fairest  and 
chief  of  that  country;  prosperous,  powerful;  a  mart  for 
numerous  commodities,  handicrafts ,  wares ;  round  it  a  wild 
country  and  a  waste  of  sand,  ruled  by  the  lion  in  his  wrath, 
and  in  it  the  tiger,  the  camelopard,  the  antelope,  and  other 
animals.  Hither,  in  caravans,  came  the  people  of  Oolb 
and  the  people  of  Damascus,  and  the  people  of  Vatz,  and 
they  of  Bagdad,  and  the  Ringheez,  great  traders,  and 
others,  trading;  and  there  was  constant  flow  of  intercourse 
between  them  and  the  city  of  Shagpat.  Now,  as  Shibli 
Bagarag  paced  up  one  of  the  streets  of  the  city,  he  beheld 
a  multitude  in  procession  following  one  that  was  crowned 
after  the  manner  of  kings,  with  a  glittering  crown,  clad  in 
the  yellow  girdled  robes,  and  he  sporting  a  fine  profusion 
of  hair,  unequalled  by  all  around  him,  save  by  one  that 
was  a  little  behind,  shadowed  by  his  presence.  So  Shibli 
Bagarag  thought,  "Is  one  of  this  twain  Shagpat?  for  never 
till  now  have  I  seen  such  rare  growths,  and  't  were  indeed 
a  bliss  to  slip  the  blade  between  them  and  those  masses  of 
darkness  that  hang  from  them."  Then  he  stepped  before 
the  King,  and  made  himself  prominent  in  his  path,  hum- 
bling himself;  and  it  was  as  he  anticipated,  the  King  pre- 
vented his  removal  by  the  slaves  that  would  have  dragged 
him  away,  and  desired  a  hearing  as  to  his  business,  and 
what  brought  him  to  the  city,  a  stranger. 

Thereupon  Shibli  Bagarag  prostrated  himself  and  cried, 
"  0  great  King,  Sovereign  of  the  Time !  surely  I  am  one 
to  be  looked  on  with  the  eye  of  grace;  and  I  am  nephew 
to  Baba  Mustapha,  renowned  in  Shiraz,  a  barber;  —  I  a 
barber,  and  it  is  my  prayer,  0  King  of  the  Age,  that  thou 
take  me  under  thy  protection  and  the  shield  of  thy  fai> 


THE  THWACKTNGS  7 

l,  while  I  perform  good  work  in  this  city  by  operating 
on  the  unshorn." 

When  he  had  spoken,  the  King  made  a  point  of  his  eye- 
brows, and  exclaimed,  "Shiraz?  So  they  hold  out  against 
Shagpat  yet,  aha?  Shiraz!  that  nest  of  them!  that  rep- 
tile's nest!"  Then  he  turned  to  his  Vizier  beside  him, 
and  said,  "What  shall  be  done  with  this  fellow?  " 

So  the  Vizier  replied,  "'Twere  well,  0  King,  he  be 
summoned  to  a  sense  of  the  loathsomeness  of  his  craft  by 
the  agency  of  fifty  stripes." 

The  King  said,  "  'T  is  commanded !  " 

Then  he  passed  forward  in  his  majesty,  and  Shibli 
Bagarag  was  ware  of  the  power  of  five  slaves  upon  him, 
and  he  was  hurried  at  a  quick  pace  through  the  streets 
and  before  the  eyes  of  the  people,  even  to  the  common 
receptacle  of  felons,  and  there  received  from  each  slave 
severally  ten  thwacks  with  a  thong :  't  is  certain  that  at 
every  thwack  the  thong  took  an  airing  before  it  descended 
upon  him.  Then  loosed  they  him,  to  wander  whither  he 
listed;  and  disgust  was  strong  in  him  by  reason  of  the 
disgrace,  and  the  severity  of  the  administration  of  the 
blows.  He  strayed  along  the  streets  in  wretchedness,  and 
hunger  increased  on  him,  assailing  him  first  as  a  wolf  in 
his  vitals,  then  as  it  had  been  a  chasm  yawning  betwixt 
his  trunk  and  his  lower  members.  And  he  thought,  "I 
have  been  long  in  chase  of  great  things,  and  the  hope  of 
attaining  them  is  great;  yet,  wullahy!  would  I  barter  all 
for  one  refreshing  meal,  and  the  sense  of  fulness.  'T  is 
so,  and  sad  is  it ! "  And  he  was  mindful  of  the  poet's 
words,  — 

Who  seeks  the  shadow  to  the  substance  sinneth 
And  daily  craving  what  is  not,  he  thinneth : 

His  lean  ambition  how  shall  he  attain  ? 
For  with  this  constant  foolishness  he  doeth,  — 
He,  waxing  liker  to  what  he  pnrsneth, 

Himself  becometh  what  he  chased  in  vain  I 


And  again : 


Of  honour  half  my  fellows  boast,  — 
A  thing  that  scorns  and  kills  us . 

Met hinks  that  honours  us  the  most 
Which  nourishes  and  fills  as. 


8  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

So  he  thought  he  would  of  a  surety  fling  far  away  hia 
tackle,  discard  barbercraft,  and  be  as  other  men,  a  mortal, 
forgotten  with  his  generation.  And  he  cried  aloud,  "0 
thou  old  woman  !  thou  deceiver !  what  hast  thou  obtained 
for  me  by  thy  deceits?  and  why  put  I  faith  in  thee  to  the 
purchase  of  a  thwacking?  Woe's  me!  I  would  thou 
hadst  been  but  a  dream,  thou  crone  1  thou  guileful  parcel 
of  belabouring  bones  1 " 

Now,  while  he  lounged  and  strolled,  and  was  abusing 
the  old  woman,  he  looked  before  him,  and  lo,  one  lolling 
in  his  shop-front,  and  ptople  standing  outside  the  shop, 
marking  him  with  admiration  and  reverence,  and  pointing 
him  out  to  each  other  with  approving  gestures.  He  who 
lolled  there  was  indeed  a  miracle  of  hairiness,  black  with 
hair  as  he  had  been  muzzled  with  it,  and  his  head  as  it 
were  a  berry  in  a  bush  by  reason  of  it.  Then  thought 
Shibli  Bagarag,  "  'T  is  Shagpat !  If  the  mole  could  swear 
to  him,  surely  can  I."  So  he  regarded  the  clothier,  and 
there  was  naught  seen  on  earth  like  the  gravity  of  Shagpat 
as  he  lolled  before  those  people,  that  failed  not  to  assemble 
in  groups  and  gaze  at  him.  He  was  as  a  sleepy  lion  cased 
in  his  mane;  as  an  owl  drowsy  in  the  daylight.  Now 
would  he  close  an  eye,  or  move  two  fingers,  but  of  other 
motion  made  he  none,  yet  the  people  gazed  at  him  with 
eagerness.  Shibli  Bagarag  was  astonished  at  them,  think- 
ing, "Hair!  hair!  There  is  might  in  hair;  but  there  is 
greater  might  in  the  barber  1  Nevertheless  here  the  barber 
is  scorned,  the  grower  of  crops  held  in  amazing  rever- 
ence." Then  thought  he,  "'T  is  truly  wondrous  the  crop 
he  groweth;  not  even  King  Shamshureen,  after  a  thousand 
years,  sported  such  mighty  profusion !  Him  I  sheared :  it 
was  a  high  task !  —  why  not  this  Shagpat?" 

Now,  long  gazing  on  Shagpat  awoke  in  Shibli  Bagarag 
fierce  desire  to  shear  him,  and  it  was  scarce  in  his  power 
to  restrain  himself  from  flying  at  the  clothier,  he  saying, 
"What  obstacle  now?  what  protecteth  him?  Nay,  why 
not  trust  to  the  old  woman?  Said  she  not  I  should  first 
essay  on  Shagpat?  and  't  was  my  folly  in  appealing  to  the 
King  that  brought  on  me  that  thwacking.  'T  is  well! 
I  '11  trust  to  her  words.  Wullahy  I  will  it  not  lead  me  to 
great  things?" 


THE  THWACKINGS  9 

So  it  was,  tnat  as  lie  thought  this  he  continued  to  keep 
eye  on  Shagpat,  and  the  hunger  that  was  in  him  passed, 
and  became  a  ravenous  vulture  that  flew  from  him  and 
singled  forth  Shagpat  as  prey;  and  there  was  no  help  for 
it  but  in  he  must  go  and  state  his  case  to  Shagpat,  and 
essay  shearing  him. 

Now,  when  he  was  in  the  presence,  he  exclaimed, 
"Peace,  O  vendor  of  apparel,  unto  thee  and  unto  thine!  " 

Shagpat  answered,  "  That  with  thee  ! " 

Said  Shibli  Bagarag,  "I  have  heard  of  thee,  0  thou 
wonder !  Wullahy !  I  am  here  to  render  homage  to  that  I 
behold." 

Shagpat  answered,  "  'T  is  well ! " 

Then  said  Shibli  Bagarag,  "Praise  my  discretion!  I 
have  even  this  day  entered  the  city,  and  it  is  to  thee  I 
offer  the  first  shave,  0  tangle  of  glory !  " 

At  these  words  Shagpat  darkened,  saying  gruffly,  "  Thy 
jest  is  offensive,  and  it  is  unseasonable  for  staleness  and 
lack  of  holiness." 

But  Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  "  No  jest,  0  purveyor  to  the 
outward  of  us!  but  a  very  excellent  earnest." 

Thereat  the  face  of  Shagpat  was  as  an  exceeding  red 
berry  in  a  bush,  and  he  said  angrily,  "Have  done!  no 
more  of  it!  or  haply  my  spleen  will  be  awakened,  and 
that  of  them  who  see  with  more  eyes  than  two." 

Nevertheless  Shibli  Bagarag  urged  him,  and  he  winked, 
and  gesticulated,  and  pointed  to  his  head,  crying,  "  Fall 
not,  0  man  of  the  nicety  of  measure,  into  the  trap  of  error ; 
for  'tis  I  that  am  a  barber,  and  a  rarity  in  this  city,  even 
Shibli  Bagarag  of  Shiraz!  Know  me  nephew  of  the  re- 
nowned Baba  Mustapha,  chief  barber  to  the  Court  of 
Persia.  Languishest  thou  not  for  my  art?  Lo!  with 
three  sweeps  I  '11  give  thee  a  clean  poll,  all  save  the  Iden- 
tical !  and  I  can  discern  and  save  it;  fear  me  not,  nor  dis- 
trust my  skill  and  the  cunning  that  is  mine." 

When  he  had  heard  Shibli  Bagarag  to  a  close ,  the  coun- 
tenance of  Shagpat  waxed  fiery,  as  it  had  been  flame 
kindled  by  travellers  at  night  in  a  thorny  bramble-bush, 
and  he  ruffled,  and  heaved,  and  was  as  when  dense  jungle- 
growths  are  stirred  violently  by  the  near  approach  of  a 
wild  animal  in  his  fury,  shouting  in  short  breaths,  "A 


10  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

barber!  a  barber!  Is  't  so?  can  it  be?  To  me?  A  bar. 
ber!  0  thou,  thou  reptile!  filthy  thing!  A  barber!  0 
dog!  A  barber?  What?  when  I  bid  fair  for  the  highest 
honours  known?  0  sacrilegious  wretch!  monster!  How? 
are  the  Af  rites  jealous,  that  they  send  thee  to  jibe  me?  " 

Thereupon  he  set  up  a  cry  for  his  wife,  and  that  woman  ca] 
rushed  to  him  from  an  inner  room,  and  fell  upon  Shibli  U3 
Bagarag,  belabouring  him.  \K 

So,  when  she  was  weary  of  this,  she  said,  "0  light  oi  )* 
my  eyes  !    0  golden  crop  and  adorable  man  !  what  hath  he 
done  to  thee?  "  Ti 

Shagpat  answered,  "  'T  is  a  barber  !  and  he  hath  sworn  to  0 
shave  me,  and  leave  me  not  save  shorn  !  " 

Hardly  had  Shagpat  spoken  this,  when  she  became  limp  {  n 
with  the  hearing  of  it.     Then  Shibli  Bagarag  slunk  from  tk 
the  shop  ;  but  without  the  crowd  had  increased,  seeing  an  ^ 
altercation,  and  as  he  took  to  his  heels  they  followed  him,     ] 
and  there  was  uproar  in  the  streets  of  the  city  and  in  th&i  ^ 
air  above  them,  as  of  raging  Genii,  —  he  like  a  started  j  an, 
quarry  doubling  this  way  and  that,  and  at  the  corners  of  no 
streets  and  open  places,   speeding  on   till  there  was  no 
breath  in  his  body,  the  cry  still  after  him  that  he  had 
bearded  Shagpat.     At  last  they  came  up  with  him,  and 
belaboured  him  each  and  all;  it  was  a  storm  of  thwacks  Mt 
that  fell  on  the  back  of  Shibli  Bagarag.     When  they  had 
wearied  themselves  in  this  fashion,  they  took  him  as  had 
he  been  a  stray  bundle  or  a  damaged  bale,  and  hurled  him 
from  the  gates  of  the  city  into  the  wilderness  once  more.      ^ 

Now,  when  he  was  alone,  he  staggered  awhile  and  then  gj 
flung  himself  to  the  earth,  looking  neither  to  the  right  not  i 
to  the  left,  nor  above.     All  he  could  think  was,  "  O  accursed  j  Oj, 
old  woman  !  "  and  this  he  kept  repeating  to  himself  f  oi 
solace;  as  the  poet  says: 

T  is  sure  the  special  privilege  of  hate, 
To  cone  the  authors  of  our  evil  state. 


As  he  was  thus  complaining,  behold  the  very  old  woman 
before  him  !  And  she  wheezed,  and  croaked,  and  coughed, 
and  shook  herself,  and  screwed  her  face  into  a  pleasing 
pucker,  and  assumed  womanish  airs,  and  swayed  herself, 
like  as  do  the  full  moons  oi  the  harem  when  the  eye  of  the 


THE  THWACKINQS  11 

master  is  upon  them.  Having  made  an  end  of  these  pret- 
tinesses,  she  said,  in  a  tone  of  soft  insinuation,  "  0  youth, 
nephew  of  the  barber,  look  upon  me." 

Shibli  Bagarag  knew  her  voice,  and  he  would  not  look, 
thinking,  "Oh,  what  a  dreadful  old  woman  is  this!  just 
calling  on  her  name  in  detestation  maketh  her  present  to 
us."  So  the  old  woman,  seeing  him  resolute  to  shun  her, 
leaned  to  him,  and  put  one  hand  to  her  dress,  and  squatted 
beside  him,  and  said,  "O  youth,  thou  hast  been  thwacked! " 

He  groaned,  lifting  not  his  face,  nor  saying  aught. 
Then  said  she,  "  Art  thou  truly  in  search  of  great  things, 
O  youth? " 

Still  he  groaned,  answering  no  syllable.  And  she  con- 
tinued, "  'T  is  surely  in  sweet  friendliness  I  ask.  Art 
thou  not  a  fair  youth,  one  to  entice  a  damsel  to  perfect 
friendliness?" 

Louder  yet  did  he  groan  at  her  words,  thinking,  "A 
damsel,  verily!"  So  the  old  woman  said,  "I  wot  thou  art 
angry  with  me;  but  now  look  up,  0  nephew  of  the  barber  I 
no  time  for  vexation.  What  says  the  poet?  — 


'  Cares  the  warrior  for  his  wounds 
When  the  steed  in  battle  bounds  ? ' 


Moreover: 


*  Let  him  who  grasps  the  crown  strip  not  for  shame, 
Lest  he  expose  what  gain'd  it  —  blow  and  maim  I ' 

in 

:So  be  it  with  thee  and  thy  thwacking,  0  foolish  youth  1 
'®  Hide  it  from  thyself,  thou  silly  one!  What!  thou  hast 
MI  !been  thwacked,  and  refusest  the  fruit  of  it  —  which  is  res- 
'd  (oluteness,  strength  of  mind,  sternness  in  pursuit  of  the 
fa  (object! " 

Then  she  softened  her  tone  to  persuasiveness,  saying, 
IU  'T  was  written  I  should  be  the  head  of  thy  fortune,  0 
:Shibli  Bagarag!  and  thou  'It  be  enviable  among  men   by 
imy  aid,  so  look  upon  me,  and  (for  I  know  thee  famished) 
nia  tthou  shalt  presently  be  supplied  with  viands  and  bright 
d  'wines  and  sweetmeats,  delicacies  to  cheer  thee." 
ling       How,  the  promise  of  food  and  provision  was  powerful 
elf,  'with  Shibli   Bagarag,  and  he  looked  up  gloomily.     And 
ithe  old  woman  smiled  archly  at  him,  and  wriggled  in  her 


12  THE   SHAVING   OF  SHAGPAT 

seat  like  a  dusty  worm,  and  said,  "Dost  thou  find  me 
charming,  thou  fair  youth?" 

He  was  nigh  laughing  in  her  face,  but  restrained  him- 
self to  reply,  "  Thou  art  that  thou  art ! " 

Said  she,  "Not  so,  but  that  I  shall  be."  Then  she  said, 
"0  youth,  pay  me  now  a  compliment!  " 

Shibli  Bagarag  was  at  a  loss  what  further  to  say  to  the 
Did  woman,  for  his  heart  cursed  her  for  her  persecutions, 
and  ridiculed  her  for  her  vanities.  At  last  he  bethought 
himself  of  the  saying  of  the  poet,  truly  the  offspring  of 
fine  wit,  where  he  says: 

Expect  no  flatteries  from  me, 

While  I  am  empty  of  good  things; 
I  '11  call  thee  fair,  and  I  'fi  agree 

Thou  boldest  Love  in  silken  strings, 
When  thon  hast  primed  me  from  thy  plenteous  store! 
But,  oh !  till  then  a  clod  am  I : 

No  seed  within  to  throw  up  flowers : 
All 's  dronthy  to  the  fountain  dry  t 

To  empty  stomachs  Nature  lowers : 
The  lake  was  full  where  heaven  look'd  fair  of  yore! 

So,  when  he  had  spoken  that,  the  old  woman  laughed 
and  exclaimed,  "Thou  art  apt!  it  is  well  said!  Surely  I 
excuse  thee  till  that  time !  Now  listen !  'T  is  written  we 
work  together,  and  I  know  it  by  divination.  Have  I  not 
known  thee  wandering,  and  on  thy  way  to  this  city  of 
Shagpat,  where  thou  'It  some  day  sit  throned?  Now  I 
propose  to  thee  this  —  and  't  is  an  excellent  proposal  — 
that  I  lead  thee  to  great  things,  and  make  thee  glorious, 
a  sitter  in  high  seats,  Master  of  an  Event?  " 

Cried  he,  "  A  proposal  honourable  to  thee,  and  pleasant 
in  the  ear." 

She  added,  "  Provided  thou  marry  me  in  sweet  marriage." 

Thereat  he  stared  on  vacancy  with  a  serious  eye,  and  he 
could  scarce  credit  her  earnestness,  but  she  repeated  the 
same.  So  presently  he  thought,  "  This  old  hag  appeareth 
deep  in  the  fountain  of  events ,  and  she  will  be  a  right  arm 
to  me  in  the  mastering  of  one,  a  torch  in  darkness,  see- 
ing there  is  wisdom  in  her  as  well  as  wickedness.  The 
thwackings? —  sad  was  their  taste,  but  they  're  in  the  road 
leading  to  greatness,  and  I  cannot  say  she  put  me  out  of 


THE  THWACKINGS  13 

that  road  in  putting  me  where  they  were.  Her  age?  — 
shall  I  complain  of  that  when  it  is  a  sign  she  goeth  shortly 
altogether  ?  " 

As  he  was  thus  debating  he  regarded  the  old  woman 
stealthily,  and  she  was  in  agitation,  so  that  her  joints 
creaked  like  forest  branches  in  a  wind,  and  the  puckers  of 
her  visage  moved  as  do  billows  of  the  sea  to  and  fro,  and 
the  anticipations  of  a  fair  young  bride  are  not  more  eager 
than  what  was  visible  in  the  old  woman.  Wheedlingly 
she  looked  at  him,  and  shaped  her  mouth  like  a  bird's  bill 
to  soften  it;  and  she  drew  together  her  dress,  to  give  her- 
self the  look  of  slimness,  using  all  fascinations.  He 
thought,  "  'T  is  a  wondrous  old  woman  !  Marriage  would 
seem  a  thing  of  moment  to  her,  yet  is  the  profit  with  me, 
and  I  '11  agree  to  it."  So  he  said,  "  }T  is  a  pact  between 
us,  0  old  woman! " 

Now,  the  eyes  of  the  old  woman  brightened  when  she 
heard  him,  and  were  as  the  eyes  of  a  falcon  that  eyeth 
game,  hungry  with  red  fire,  and  she  looked  brisk  with 
impatience,  laughing  a  low  laugh  and  saying,  "0  youth, 
I  must  claim  of  thee ,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  the  kiss  of 
contract." 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  was  mindful  of  what  is  written, 

If  them  wouldst  take  the  great  leap,  be  ready  for  the  little  jump, 

and  he  stretched  out  his  mouth  to  the  forehead  of  the  old 
woman.  When  he  had  done  so,  it  was  as  though  she  had 
been  illuminated,  as  when  light  is  put  in  the  hollow  of  a 
pumpkin.  Then  said  she,  "This  is  well!  this  is  a  fair 
beginning!  Now  look,  for  thy  fortune  will  of  a  surety 
follow.  Call  me  now  sweet  bride,  and  knocker  at  the 
threshold  of  hearts !  " 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  sighed,  and  called  her  this,  and  he 
said,  "  Forget  not  my  condition,  0  old  woman,  and  that  I 
am  nigh  famished." 

Upon  that  she  nodded  gravely,  and  arose  and  shook  her 
garments  together,  and  beckoned  for  Shibli  Bagarag  to 
follow  her;  and  the  two  passed  through  the  gates  of  the 
city,  and  held  on  together  through  divers  streets  and 
thoroughfares  till  they  came  before  the  doors  of  a  palace 
with  a  pillared  entrance ;  and  the  old  woman  passed  through 


14  THE  SHAVING  OP   SHAGPAT 

the  doors  of  the  palace  as  one  familiar  to  them,  and  lov 
they  were  in  a  lofty  court,  built  all  of  marble,  and  in  the 
middle  of  it  a  fountain  playing,  splashing  silvery.  Shibli 
Bagarag  would  have  halted  here  to  breathe  the  cool  re- 
freshingness  of  the  air,  but  the  old  woman  would  not; 
and  she  hurried  on  even  to  the  opening  of  a  spacious 
Hall,  and  in  it  slaves  in  circle  round  a  raised  seat,  where 
sat  one  that  was  their  lord,  and  it  was  the  Chief  Vizier 
of  the  King. 

Then  the  old  woman  turned  round  sharply  to  Shibli 
Bagarag,  and  said,  "How  of  thy  tackle,  O  my  betrothed?" 

He  answered,  "The  edge  is  keen,  the  hand  ready." 

Then  said  she,  "  'T  is  well." 

So  the  old  woman  put  her  two  hands  on  the  shoulders  of 
Shibli  Bagarag,  saying,  "Make  thy  reverence  to  him  on 
the  raised  seat ;  have  faith  in  thy  tackle  and  in  me.  Ke- 
nounce  not  either,  whatsoever  ensueth.  Be  not  abashed, 
0  my  bridegroom  to  be  !  " 

Thereupon  she  thrust  him  in;  and  Shibli  Bagarag  was 
abashed,  and  played  foolishly  with  his  fingers,  knowing 
not  what  to  do.  So  when  the  Chief  Vizier  saw  him  he 
cried  out,  "Who  art  thou,  and  what  wantest  thou?" 

Now,  the  back  of  Shibli  Bagarag  tingled  when  he  heard 
the  Vizier's  voice,  and  he  said,  "I  am,  O  man  of  exalted 
condition,  he  whom  men  know  as  Shibli  Bagarag,  nephew 
to  Baba  Mustapha,  the  renowned  of  Shiraz;  myself  barber 
likewise,  proud  of  my  art,  prepared  to  exercise  it." 

Then  said  the  Chief  Vizier,  "  This  even  to  our  faces ! 
Wonderful  is  the  audacity  of  impudence !  Know,  O 
nephew  of  the  barber,  thou  art  among  them  that  honour 
not  thy  art.  Is  it  not  written,  For  one  thing  thou  shalt 
be  crowned  here,  for  that  thing  be  thwacked  there?  So 
also  it  is  written,  The  tongue  of  the  insolent  one  is  a  lash 
and  a  perpetual  castigation  to  him.  And  it  is  written,  O 
Shibli  Bagarag,  that  I  reap  honour  from  thee,  and  there  is 
no  help  but  that  thou  be  made  an  example  of." 

So  the  Chief  Vizier  uttered  command,  and  Shibli  Bagarag 
was  ware  of  the  power  of  five  slaves  upon  him ;  and  they 
seized  him  familiarly,  and  placed  him  in  position,  and 
made  ready  his  clothing  for  the  reception  of  fifty  other 
thwacks  with  a  thong,  each  several  thwack  coming  down 


THE  THWACKINGS  16 

on  him  with  a  hiss,  as  it  were  a  serpent,  and  with  a  smack, 
as  it  were  the  mouth  of  satisfaction ;  and  the  people  assem. 
bled  extolled  the  Chief  Vizier,  saying,  "  Well  and  valiantly 
done,  0  stay  of  the  State  1  and  such-like  to  the  accursed 
race  of  barbers." 

Now,  when  they  had  passed  before  the  Chief  Vizier  and 
departed,  lo !  he  fell  to  laughing  violently,  so  that  his  hair 
was  agitated  and  was  as  a  sand-cloud  over  him,  and  his 
countenance  behind  it  was  as  the  sun  of  the  desert  reflected 
ripplingly  on  the  waters  of  a  bubbling  spring,  for  it  had 
the  aspect  of  merriness;  and  the  Chief  Vizier  exclaimed, 
"O  Shibli  Bagarag,  have  I  not  made  fair  show?  " 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  "  Excellent  fair  show,  0  mighty 
one ! "  Yet  knew  he  not  in  what,  but  he  was  abject  by 
reason  of  the  thwacks. 

So  the  Vizier  said,  "  Thou  lookest  lean,  even  as  one  to 
whom  Fortune  oweth  a  long  debt.  Tell  me  now  of  thy 
barbercraft:  perchance  thy  gain  will  be  great  thereby?" 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  answered,  "My  gain  has  been  great, 
0  eminent  in  rank,  but  of  evil  quality,  and  I  am  content 
not  to  increase  it."  And  he  broke  forth  into  lamentations, 
crying  in  excellent  verse :  — 

Why  am  I  thus  the  sport  of  all  — 
A  thing  Fate  knocketh  like  a  ball 
Prom  point  to  point  of  evil  chance, 
Even  as  the  sneer  of  Circumstance  ? 
While  thirsting  for  the  highest  fame, 

I  hunger  like  the  lowest  beast : 
To  be  the  first  of  men  I  aim 

And  find  myself  the  least. 

Now,  the  Vizier  delayed  not  when  he  heard  this  to  have 
a  fair  supply  set  before  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  meats  dressed 
in  divers  fashions,  spiced,  and  coloured,  and  with  herbs, 
and  wines  in  golden  goblets,  and  slaves  in  attendance.  So 
Shibli  Bagarag  ate  and  drank,  and  presently  his  soul  arose 
from  its  prostration,  and  he  cried,  "  Wullahy  !  the  head 
cook  of  King  Shamshureen  could  have  worked  no  better  as 
regards  the  restorative  process." 

Then  said  the  Chief  Vizier,  "0  Shibli  Bagarag,  where 
now  is  thy  tackle?" 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  winked  and  nodded  and  turned  hia 


16  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

head  in  the  manner  of  the  knowing  ones,  and  he  recited 
the  verse : 

T  is  well  that  we  are  sometimes  circumspect, 
And  hold  ourselves  in  witless  ways  deterred: 

ONE  thwacking  made  me  seriously  reflect ; 
A  SECOND  turned  the  cream  of  love  to  curd: 

Moat  surely  that  profession  I  reject 
Before  the  fear  of  a  prospective  THIRD. 

So  the  Vizier   said,    "  'T  is  well,   thou    turnest  verse 
ueatly."    And  he  exclaimed  extemporaneously: 

If  thou  wouldst  have  thy  achievement  as  high 

As  the  wings  of  Ambition  can  fly ; 
If  thou  the  clear  summit  of  hope  wouldst  attain, 

And  not  have  thy  labour  in  vain ; 
Be  steadfast  in  that  which  impell'd,  for  the  peace 

Of  earth  he  who  leaves  must  have  trust : 
He  is  safe  while  he  soars,  but  when  faith  shall  cease, 

Desponding  he  drops  to  the  dust. 

Then  said  he,  "  Fear  no  further  thwacking,  but  honour  and 
prosperity  in  the  place  of  it.  What  says  the  poet  ?  — 

'  We  faint,  when  for  the  fire 
•  There  needs  one  spark ; 

We  droop,  when  our  desire 
Is  near  its  mark.' 

How  near  to  it  art  thou,  0  Shibli  Bagarag !  Know,  then, 
that  among  this  people  there  is  great  reverence  for  the 
growing  of  hair,  and  he  that  is  hairiest  is  honoured  most, 
wherefore  are  barbers  creatures  of  especial  abhorrence, 
and  of  a  surety  flourish  not.  And  so  it  is  that  I  owe  my 
station  to  the  esteem  I  profess  for  the  cultivation  of  hair, 
and  to  my  persecution  of  the  clippers  of  it.  And  in  this 
kingdom  is  no  one  that  beareth  such  a  crop  as  I,  saving 
one,  a  clothier,  an  accursed  one !  —  and  may  a  blight  fall 
upon  him  for  his  vanity  and  his  affectation  of  solemn 
priestliness,  and  his  lolling  in  his  shop-front  to  be  admired 
and  marvelled  at  by  the  people.  So  this  fellow  I  would 
disgrace  and  bring  to  scorn,  —  this  Shagpat !  for  he  is 
mine  enemy,  and  the  eye  of  the  King  my  master  is  on 
him.  Now  I  conceive  thy  assistance  in  this  matter,  0 
Shibli  Bagarag,  — thou,  a  barber." 

When  Shibli  Bagarag  heard  mention  of  Shagpat,  and 


THE  THWACKINGS  17 

the  desire  for  vengeance  in  the  Vizier,  he  was  as  a  new 
man,  and  he  smelt  the  sweetness  of  his  own  revenge  as  a 
vulture  smelleth  the  carrion  from  afar,  and  he  said,  "  I  am 
thy  servant,  thy  slave,  O  Vizier ! "  Then  smiled  he  as  to 
his  own  soul,  and  he  exclaimed,  "  On  my  head  be  it !  " 

And  it  was  to  him  as  when  sudden  gusts  of  perfume 
from  garden  roses  of  the  valley  meet  the  traveller's  nostril 
on  the  hill  that  overlooketh  the  valley,  filling  him  with 
ecstasy  and  newness  of  life,  delicate  visions.  And  he 
cried,  "Wullahy!  this  is  fair;  this  is  well!  I  am  he  that 
was  appointed  to  do  thy  work,  0  man  in  office  1  What 
says  the  poet?  — 

'  The  destined  hand  doth  strike  the  fated  blow . 
Surely  the  arrow's  fitted  to  the  bowl ' 

And  he  says : 

'The  feathered  seed  for  the  wind  delayeth, 
The  wind  above  the  garden  swayeth, 
The  garden  of  its  burden  knoweth, 
The  burden  falleth,  sinketh,  soweth.'  * 

So  the  Vizier  chuckled  and  nodded,  saying,  "Eight, 
right !  aptly  spoken,  0  youth  of  favour  I  'T  is  even  so, 
and  there  is  wisdom  in  what  is  written: 

'  Chance  is  a  poor  knave ; 
Its  own  sad  slave ; 
Two  meet  that  were  to  meet : 
Life 's  no  cheat/  " 

Upon  that  he  cried,  "First  let  us  have  with  us  the 
Eclipser  of  Keason,  and  take  counsel  with  her,  as  is  my 
custom." 

Now,  the  Vizier  made  signal  to  a  slave  in  attendance, 
and  the  slave  departed  from  the  Hall,  and  the  Vizier  led 
Shibli  Bagarag  into  a  closer  chamber,  which  had  a  smooth 
floor  of  inlaid  silver  and  silken  hangings,  the  windows 
looking  forth  on  the  gardens  of  the  palace  and  its  foun- 
tains and  cool  recesses  of  shade  and  temperate  sweetness. 
While  they  sat  there  conversing  in  this  metre  and  that, 
measuring  quotations,  lo !  the  old  woman,  the  affianced  of 
Shibli  Bagarag  —  and  she  sumptuously  arrayed,  in  perfect 
queenliness,  her  head  bound  in  a  circlet  of  gems  and  gold, 


18  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

her  figure  lustrous  with  a  full  robe  of  flowing  crimson  silk; 
and  she  wore  slippers  embroidered  with  golden  traceries, 
Mid  round  her  waist  a  girdle  Hashing  with  jewels,  so  that 
to  look  on  she  was  as  a  long  falling  water  in  the  last  bright 
slant  of  the  sun.  Her  hair  hung  disarranged,  and  spread 
in  a  scattered  fashion  off  her  shoulders;  and  she  was 
younger  by  many  moons,  her  brow  smooth  where  Shibli 
Bagarag  had  given  the  kiss  of  contract,  her  hand  soft  and 
white  where  he  had  taken  it.  Shibli  Bagarag  was  smitten 
with  astonishment  at  sight  of  her, and  he  thought,  "Surely 
the  aspect  of  this  old  woman  would  realize  the  story  of 
Bhanavar  the  Beautiful;  and  it  is  a  story  marvellous  to 
think  of;  yet  how  great  is  the  likeness  between  Bhanavar 
and  this  old  woman  that  groweth  younger ! " 

And  he  thought  again,  "  What  if  the  story  of  Bhanavar 
be  a  true  one;  this  old  woman  such  as  she  —  no  other?  " 

So,  while  be  considered  her,  the  Vizier  exclaimed,  "Is 
she  not  fair  —  my  daughter?  " 

And  the  youth  answered,  "She  is,  0  Vizier,  that  she 
Is!" 

But  the  Vizier  cried,  "Nay,  by  Allah!  she  is  that  she 
will  be."  And  the  Vizier  said,  "'T  is  she  that  is  my 
daughter;  tell  me  thy  thought  of  her,  as  thou  thinkest  it." 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  replied,  "O  Vizier,  my  thought  of 
her  is,  she  seemeth  indeed  as  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful  —  no 
other." 

Then  the  Vizier  and  the  Eclipser  of  Reason  exclaimed 
together,  "How  of  Bhanavar  and  her  story,  O  youth? 
We  listen ! " 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  leaned  slightly  on  a  cushion  of  a 
couch,  and  narrated  as  followeth. 


AND  THIS  IS  THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR 
THE   BEAUTIFUL 

KNOW  that  at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  mountain  of  the  Caucasus 
there  lieth  a  deep  blue  lake;  near  to  this  lake  a  nest  of 
serpents,  wise  and  ancient.  Now,  it  was  the  habit  of  a 
damsel  to  pass  by  the  lake  early  at  morn,  on  her  way  from 
the  tents  of  her  tribe  to  the  pastures  of  the  flocks.  As  she 
pressed  the  white  arch  of  her  feet  on  the  soft  green-mossed 
grasses  by  the  shore  of  the  lake  she  would  let  loose  her 
hair,  looking  over  into  the  water,  and  bind  the  braid  again 
round  her  temples  and  behind  her  ears,  as  it  had  been  in  a 
lucent  mirror:  so  doing  she  would  laugh.  Her  laughter 
was  like  the  falls  of  water  at  moonrise;  her  loveliness  like 
the  very  moonrise;  and  she  was  stately  as  a  palm-tree 
standing  before  the  moon. 

This  was  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful. 

Now,  the  damsel  was  betrothed  to  the  son  of  a  neigh, 
bouring  Emir,  a  youth  comely,  well -fashioned,  skilled 
with  the  bow,  apt  in  all  exercises;  one  that  sat  his  mare 
firm  as  the  trained  falcon  that  fixeth  on  the  plunging  bull 
of  the  plains;  fair  and  terrible  in  combat  as  the  lightning 
that  strideth  the  rolling  storm;  and  it  is  sung  by  the  poet: 

When  on  his  desert  mare  I  see 

My  prince  of  men, 

I  think  him  then 
As  hifrh  above  humanity 
As  he  shines  radiant  over  me. 

Lo !  like  a  torrent  he  doth  bound, 

Bre«8ting  the  shock 

From  rock  to  rock : 

A  pillar  of  storm,  he  shakes  the  ground, 
His  turban  on  his  temples  wound. 


20  THE  SHAVING  OF  8HAGPAT 

Match  me  for  worth  to  be  adored 

A  youth  like  him 

In  heart  ami  limb  ! 
Swift  as  his  anger  is  his  sword ; 
Softer  than  woman  his  true  word. 

Now,  the  love  of  this  youth  for  the  damsel  Bhanavai 
was  a  consuming  passion,  and  the  father  of  the  damsel 
and  the  father  of  the  youth  looked  fairly  on  the  prospect 
of  their  union,  which  was  near,  and  was  plighted  as  the 
union  of  the  two  tribes.  So  they  met,  and  there  was  no 
voice  against  their  meeting,  and  all  the  love  that  was  in 
them  they  were  free  to  pour  forth  far  from  the  hearing  of 
men,  even  where  they  would.  Before  the  rising  of  the 
sun,  and  ere  his  setting,  the  youth  rode  swiftly  from  the 
green  tents  of  the  Emir  his  father,  to  waylay  her  by 
the  waters  of  the  lake;  and  Bhanavar  was  there,  bending 
over  the  lake,  her  image  in  the  lake  glowing  like  the  fair 
fulness  of  the  moon ;  and  the  youth  leaned  to  her  from  his 
steed,  and  sang  to  her  verses  of  her  great  loveliness  ere 
she  was  wistful  of  him.  Then  she  turned  to  him,  and 
laughed  lightly  a  welcome  of  sweetness,  and  shook  the 
falls  of  her  hair  across  the  blushes  of  her  face  and  her 
bosom;  and  he  folded  her  to  him,  and  those  two  would 
fondle  together  in  the  fashion  of  the  betrothed  ones  (the 
blessing  of  Allah  be  on  them  all !),  gazing  on  each  other 
till  their  eyes  swam  with  tears,  and  they  were  nigh  swoon- 
ing with  the  fulness  of  their  bliss.  Surely  't  was  an  inno- 
cent and  tender  dalliance,  and  their  prattle  was  that  of 
lovers  till  the  time  of  parting,  he  showing  her  how  she 
looked  best  —  she  him;  and  they  were  forgetful  of  all  else 
that  is,  in  their  sweet  interchange  of  flatteries;  and  the 
world  was  a  wilderness  to  them  both  when  the  youth 
parted  with  Bhanavar  by  the  brook  which  bounded  the 
tents  of  her  tribe. 

It  was  on  a  night  when  they  were  so  together,  the 
damsel  leaning  on  his  arm,  her  eyes  towards  the  lake, 
and  lo !  what  seemed  the  reflection  of  a  large  star  in 
the  water;  and  there  was  darkness  in  the  sky  above  it, 
thick  clouds,  and  no  sight  of  the  heavens;  so  she  held 
her  face  to  him  sideways  and  said,  "What  meaneth  this, 
O  my  betrothed?  for  there  is  reflected  in  yonder  lake 


THE  STORY  OP  BHANAVAB  21 

a  light  as  of  a  star,  and  there  is  no  star  visible  this 
night." 

The  youth  trembled  as  one  in  trouble  of  spirit,  and 
exclaimed,  "Look  not  on  it,  0  my  soul!  It  is  of  evil 
omen." 

But  Bhanavar  kept  her  gaze  constantly  on  the  light,  and 
the  light  increased  in  lustre;  and  the  light  became,  from 
a  pale  sad  splendour,  dazzling  in  its  brilliancy.  Listen- 
ing, they  heard  presently  a  gurgling  noise  as  of  one  deeply 
drinking.  Then  the  youth  sighed  a  heavy  sigh  and  said, 
"  This  is  the  Serpent  of  the  Lake  drinking  of  its  waters, 
as  is  her  wont  once  every  moon,  and  whoso  heareth  her 
drink  by  the  sheening  of  that  light  is  under  a  destiny  dark 
and  imminent;  so  know  I  my  days  are  numbered,  and  it 
was  foretold  of  me,  this ! "  Now  the  youth  sought  to  dis- 
suade Bhanavar  from  gazing  on  the  light,  and  he  flung  his 
whole  body  before  her  eyes,  and  clasped  her  head  upon  his 
breast,  and  clung  about  her,  caressing  her;  yet  she  slipped 
from  him,  and  she  cried,  "  Tell  me  of  this  serpent,  and  of 
this  light." 

So  he  said,  "Seek  not  to  hear  of  it,  0  my  betrothed  !" 

Then  she  gazed  at  the  light  a  moment  more  intently, 
and  turned  her  fair  shape  toward  him ,  and  put  up  her  long 
white  fingers  to  his  chin,  and  smoothed  him  with  their 
softness,  whispering,  "  Tell  me  of  it,  my  life ! " 

And  so  it  was  that  her  winningness  melted  him,  and  he 
said,  "0  Bhanavar!  the  serpent  is  the  Serpent  of  the 
Lake;  old,  wise,  powerful;  of  the  brood  of  the  sacred 
mountain,  that  lifteth  by  day  a  peak  of  gold,  and  by  night 
a  point  of  solitary  silver.  In  her  head,  upon  her  forehead, 
between  her  eyes,  there  is  a  Jewel,  and  it  is  this  light." 

Then  she  said,  "  How  came  the  Jewel  there,  in  such  a 
place?" 

He  answered,  "  'T  is  the  growth  of  one  thousand  years 
in  the  head  of  the  serpent." 

She  cried,  "Surely  precious?" 

He  answered,  "  Beyond  price !  " 

As  he  spake  the  tears  streamed  from  him,  and  he  was 
shaken  with  grief,  but  she  noted  nought  of  this,  and 
watched  the  wonder  of  the  light,  and  its  increasing,  and 
quivering,  and  lengthening;  and  the  light  was  as  an  arrow 


22  THE  SHAVING  OF   8HAGPAT 

of  beams  and  as  a  globe  of  radiance.  Desire  for  the  Jewel 
waxed  in  her,  and  she  had  no  sight  but  for  it  alone,  cry- 
ing, "  'T  is  a  Jewel  exceeding  in  preciousness  all  jewels 
that  are,  and  for  the  possessing  it  would  I  forfeit  all  that 
is." 

So  he  said  sorrowfully,  "Our  love,  O  Bhanavar?  and  our 
hopes  of  espousal?  " 

But  she  cried,  "No  question  of  that!  Prove  now  thy 
passion  for  me,  O  warrior!  and  win  for  me  that  Jewel." 

Then  he  pleaded  with  her,  and  exclaimed,  "Urge  not 
this!  The  winning  of  the  Jewel  is  worth  my  life;  and 
my  life,  0  Bhanavar  —  surely  its  breath  is  but  the  love  oi 
fchee." 

So  she  said,  "Thou  fearest  a  risk?  " 

And  he  replied,  "Little  fear  I;  my  life  is  thine  to  cast 
away.  This  Jewel  it  is  evil  to  have,  and  evil  followeth 
the  soul  that  hath  it." 

Upon  that  she  cried,  "  A  trick  to  cheat  me  of  the  Jewel ! 
thy  love  is  wanting  at  the  proof." 

And  she  taunted  the  youth  her  betrothed,  and  turned 
from  him,  and  hardened  at  his  tenderness,  and  made  her 
sweet  shape  as  a  thorn  to  his  caressing,  and  his  heart  was 
charged  with  anguish  for  her.  So  at  the  last,  when  he 
had  wept  a  space  in  silence,  he  cried,  "Thou  hast  willed 
it;  the  Jewel  shall  be  thine,  0  my  soul ! " 

Then  said  he,  "Thou  hast  willed  it,  0  Bhanavar!  and 
my  life  is  as  a  grain  of  sand  weighed  against  thy  wishes ; 
Allah  is  my  witness!  Meet  me  therefore  here,  0  my  be- 
loved, at  the  end  of  one  quarter-moon,  even  beneath  the 
shadow  of  this  palm-tree,  by  the  lake,  and  at  this  hour, 
and  I  will  deliver  into  thy  hands  the  Jewel.  So  farewell ! 
Wind  me  once  about  with  thine  arms,  that  I  may  take 
comfort  from  thee." 

When  their  kiss  was  over  the  youth  led  her  silently  to 
the  brook  of  their  parting  —  the  clear,  cold,  bubbling  brook 
—  and  passed  from  her  sight;  and  the  damsel  was  exult- 
ing, and  leapt  and  made  circles  in  her  glee,  and  she  danced 
and  rioted  and  sang,  and  clapped  her  hands,  crying,  "If  I 
am  now  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful  how  shall  I  be  when  that 
Jewel  is  upon  me,  the  bright  light  which  beameth  in  the 
darkness,  and  needeth  to  light  it  no  other  light  ?  Surely 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAB  23 

there  will  be  envy  among  the  maidens  and  the  widows, 
and  my  name  and  the  odour  of  my  beauty  will  travel  to 
the  courts  of  far  kings." 

So  was  she  jubilant;  and  her  sisters  that  met  her  mar- 
velled at  her  and  the  deep  glow  that  was  upon  her,  even  as 
the  glow  of  the  Great  Desert  when  the  sun  has  fallen ;  and 
they  said  among  themselves,  "  She  is  covered  all  over  with 
the  blush  of  one  that  is  a  bride,  and  the  bridegroom's  kiss 
yet  burneth  upon  Bhanavar !  " 

So  they  undressed  her  and  she  lay  among  them,  and  was 
all  night  even  as  a  bursting  rose  in  a  vase  filled  with 
drooping  lilies ;  and  one  of  the  maidens  that  put  her  hand 
on  the  left  breast  of  Bhanavar  felt  it  full ,  and  the  heart 
beneath  it  panting  and  beating  swifter  than  the  ground  is 
struck  by  hooves  of  the  chosen  steed  sent  by  the  Chieftain 
to  the  city  of  his  people  with  news  of  victory  and  the 
summons  for  rejoicing. 

Now,  the  nights  and  the  days  of  Bhanavar  were  even 
as  this  night,  and  she  was  as  an  unquiet  soul  till  the  ap- 
pointed time  for  the  meeting  with  her  lover  had  come. 
Then  when  the  sun  was  lighting  with  slant  beam  the  green 
grass  slope  by  the  blue  brook  before  her,  Bhanavar  arrayed 
herself  and  went  forth  gaily,  as  a  martial  queen  to  certain 
conquest;  and  of  all  the  flowers  that  nodded  to  the  setting, 
—  yea,  the  crimson,  purple,  pure  white,  streaked-yellow, 
azure,  and  saffron,  there  was  no  flower  fairer  in  its  huea 
than  Bhanavar,  nor  bird  of  the  heavens  freer  in  its  glitter- 
ing plumage,  nor  shape  of  loveliness  such  as  hers.  Truly, 
when  she  had  taken  her  place  under  the  palm  by  the  water? 
of  the  lake,  that  was  no  exaggeration  of  the  poet,  where  h* 
says: 

Snows  of  the  mountain-peaks  were  mirror'd  there 
Beneath  her  feet,  not  whiter  than  they  were; 
Not  rosier  in  the  white,  that  falling  flush 
Broad  on  the  wave,  than  in  her  cheek  the  blush,  ] 


And  again . 


She  draws  the  heavens  down  to  h»r, 
So  rare  she  is,  so  fair  she  is ; 

They  flatter  with  a  crown  to  her, 
And  lisrtten.  only  where  she  is. 


24  THE  SHAVING   OF   8HAGPAT 

And  he  exclaims,  in  verse  that  applieth  to  her: 

Exquisite  slenderness ! 
Sleek  little  antelope ! 

Serpent  of  sweetness ! 
Eagle  that  soaringly 
Wins  me  adoringly ! 
Teach  me  thv  fleetness, 
Vision  of  loveliness ; 
Torn  to  my  tenderness ! 

Now,  when  the  sun  was  lost  to  earth,  and  all  was  dark- 
ness, Bhanavar  fixed  her  eyes  upon  an  opening  arch  of  foli- 
age in  the  glade  through  which  the  youth  her  lover  should 
come  to  her,  and  clasped  both  hands  across  her  bosom,  so 
shaken  was  she  with  eager  longing  and  expectation.  In 
her  hunger  for  his  approach,  she  would  at  whiles  pluck  up 
the  herbage  about  her  by  the  roots,  and  toss  handfuls  this 
way  and  that,  chiding  the  peaceful  song  of  the  nightbird 
in  the  leaves  above  her  head;  and  she  was  sinking  with 
fretfulness,  when  lo!  from  the  opening  arch  of  the  glade  a 
sudden  light,  and  Bhanavar  knew  it  for  the  Jewel  in  the 
fingers  of  her  betrothed,  by  the  strength  of  its  effulgence. 
Then  she  called  to  him  joyfully  a  cry  of  welcome,  and 
quickened  his  coming  with  her  calls,  and  the  youth 
alighted  from  his  mare  and  left  it  to  pasture,  and  ad- 
vanced to  her,  holding  aloft  the  Jewel.  And  the  Jewel 
was  of  great  size  and  purity,  round,  and  all-luminous, 
throwing  rays  and  beams  everywhere  about  it,  a  miracle 
to  behold,  —  the  light  in  it  shining,  and  as  the  very  life  of 
the  blood,  a  sweet  crimson,  a  ruby,  a  s«fter  rose,  an  ame- 
thyst of  tender  hues:  it  was  a  full  globe  of  splendours, 
showing  like  a  very  kingdom  of  the  Blest;  and  blessed  was 
the  eye  beholding  it!  So  when  he  was  within  reach  of  her 
arm,  the  damsel  sprang  to  him  and  caught  from  his  hand 
the  Jewel,  and  held  it  before  her  eyes,  and  danced  with  it, 
and  pressed  it  on  her  bosom,  and  was  as  a  creature  giddy 
with  great  joy  in  possessing  it.  And  she  put  the  Jewel  in 
her  bosom,  and  looked  on  the  youth  to  thank  him  for  the 
Jewel  with  all  her  beauty;  for  the  passion  of  a  mighty 
pride  in  him  who  had  won  for  her  the  Jewel  exalted 
Bhanavar,  and  she  said  sweetly,  "Now  hast  thou  proved 
to  me  thy  love  of  me,  and  I  am  thine,  0  my  betrothed,  — 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  25 

wholly  thine.  Kiss  me,  then,  and  cease  not  kissing  me, 
for  bliss  is  in  me." 

But  the  youth  eyed  her  sorrowfully,  even  as  one  that 
hath  great  yearning,  and  no  power  to  move  or  speak. 

So  she  said  again,  in  the  low  melody  of  deep  love-tones, 
"Kiss  me,  O  my  lover!  for  I  desire  thy  kiss." 

Still  he  spake  not,  and  was  as  a  pillar  of  stone. 

And  she  started,  and  cried,  "Thou  art  whole?  without  a 
uirt  ?  "  Then  sought  she  to  coax  him  to  her  with  all  the 
softness  of  her  half-closed  eyes  and  budded  lips,  saying, 
"'T  was  an  idle  fear!  and  I  have  thee,  and  thou  art  mine, 
and  I  am  thine ;  so  speak  to  me,  my  lover !  for  there  is  no 
music  like  the  music  of  thy  voice,  and  the  absence  of  it  is 
the  absence  of  all  sweetness,  and  there  is  no  pleasure  in 
life  without  it." 

So  the  tenderness  of  her  fondling  melted  the  silence  in 
him,  and  presently  his  tongue  was  loosed,  and  he  breathed 
in  pain  of  spirit,  and  his  words  were  the  words  of  the 
proverb : 

He  that  fighteth  with  poison  is  no  match  for  the  prick  of  a  thorn. 

And  he  said,  "  Surely,  0  Bhanavar,  my  love  for  thee  sur- 
passeth  what  is  told  of  others  that  have  loved  before  us, 
and  I  count  no  loss  a  loss  that  is  for  thy  sake."  And  he 
sighed,  and  sang: 

Sadder  than  is  the  moon's  lost  light, 

Lost  ere  the  kindling  of  dawn, 

To  travellers  journeying  on, 
The  shutting  of  thy  fair  face  from  my  sight. 

Might  I  look  on  thee  in  death. 

With  bliss  I  would  yield  my  breath. 
Oh !  what  warrior  dies 
With  heaven  in  his  eyes  ' 
O  Bhanavar !  too  rich  a  prize ! 

The  life  of  my  nostrils  art  thon, 

The  balm-dew  on  my  brow  ; 

Thou  art  the  perfume  I  meet  as  I  speed  o'er  the  plains, 
The  strength  of  my  arms,  the  blood  of  my  veins. 

Then  said  he,  "I  make  nothing  matter  of  complaint, 
Allah  witnesseth!  not  even  the  long  parting  from  her  I 
love.  What  will  be,  will  be:  so  was  it  written !  'T  is  but 
ft  scratch,  O  my  soul !  yet  am  I  of  the  dead  and  them  that 


26  THE   SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

are  passed  away.     "Tis  hard;  but  I  smile  in  the  face  of 
bitterness." 

Now,  at  his  words  the  damsel  clutched  him  with  both 
her  hands,  and  the  blood  went  from  her,  and  she  was  as  a 
block  of  white  marble,  even  as  one  of  those  we  meet  in  the 
desert,  leaning  together,  marking  the  wrath  of  the  All- 
powerful  on  forgotten  cities.  And  the  tongue  of  the  dam- 
sel was  dry,  and  she  was  without  speech,  gazing  at  him 
with  wide-open  eyes,  like  one  in  trance.  Then  she  started 
as  a  dreamer  wakeneth,  and  flung  herself  quickly  on  the 
breast  of  the  youth,  and  put  up  the  sleeve  from  his  arm, 
and  beheld  by  the  beams  of  the  quarter-crescent  that  had 
risen  through  the  leaves,  a  small  bite  on  the  arm  of  the 
youth  her  betrothed,  spotted  with  seven  spots  of  blood  in 
a  crescent;  so  she  knew  that  the  poison  of  the  serpent  had 
entered  by  that  bite;  and  she  loosened  herself  to  the  vio- 
lence of  her  anguish,  shrieking  the  shrieks  of  despair,  so 
that  the  voice  of  her  lamentation  was  multiplied  about  and 
made  mauy  voices  in  the  night.  Her  spirit  returned  not 
to  her  till  the  crescent  of  the  moon  was  yellow  to  its  fall ; 
and  lo!  the  youth  was  sighing  heavy  sighs  and  leaning  to 
the  ground  on  one  elbow,  and  she  flung  herself  by  him  on 
the  ground,  seeking  for  herbs  that  were  antidotes  to  the 
poison  of  the  serpent,  grovelling  among  the  grasses  and 
strewn  leaves  of  the  wood,  peering  at  them  tearfully  by 
the  pale  beams,  and  startling  the  insects  as  she  moved. 
When  she  had  gathered  some,  she  pressed  them  and  bruised 
them,  and  laid  them  along  his  lips,  that  were  white  as  the 
ball  of  an  eye;  and  she  made  him  drink  drops  of  the  juices 
of  the  herbs,  wailing  and  swaying  her  body  across  him,  as 
one  that  seeketh  vainly  to  give  brightness  again  to  the 
flames  of  a  dying  fire.  But  now  his  time  was  drawing 
iiigh,  and  he  was  weak,  and  took  her  hand  in  his  and  gazed 
on  her  face,  sighing,  and  said,  "There  is  nothing  shall 
keep  me  by  thee  now,  0  my  betrothed,  my  beautiful! 
Weep  not,  for  it  is  the  doing  of  fate,  and  not  thy  doing. 
So  ere  I  go,  and  the  grave-cloth  separates  thy  heart  from 
my  heart,  listen  to  me.  Lo,  that  Jewel !  it  is  the  giver  of 
years  and  of  powers,  and  of  loveliness  beyond  mortal,  yet 
the  wearing  of  it  availeth  not  in  the  pursuit  of  happiness. 
Now  art  thou  Queen  over  the  serpents  of  this  lake :  it  was 


THE   STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  27 

the  Queen-serpent  I  slew,  and  her  vengeance  is  on  me  here. 
Now  art  thou  mighty,  0  Bhanavar !  and  look  to  do  well 
by  thy  tribe,  and  that  from  which  I  spring,  recompensing 
my  father  for  his  loss,  pouring  ointment  on  his  affliction, 
for  great  is  the  grief  of  the  old  man,  and  he  loveth  me, 
and  is  childless." 

Then  the  youth  fell  back  and  was  still;  and  Bhanavar 
put  her  ear  to  his  mouth,  and  heard  what  seemed  an  inner 
voice  murmuring  in  him,  and  it  was  of  his  infancy  and  his 
boyhood,  and  of  his  father  the  Emir's  first  gift  to  him,  his 
horse  Zoora,  in  old  times.  Presently  the  youth  revived 
somewhat,  and  looked  upon  her;  but  his  sight  was  glazed 
with  a  film,  and  she  sang  her  name  to  him  ere  he  knew 
her,  and  the  sad  sweetness  of  her  name  filled  his  soul,  and 
he  replied  to  her  with  it  weakly,  like  a  far  echo  that  grow- 
eth  fainter,  "  Bhauavar !  Bhanavar !  Bhanavar !  "  Then 
a  change  came  over  him,  and  the  pain  of  the  poison  and 
the  passion  of  the  death-throe,  and  he  was  wistful  of  her 
no  more;  but  she  lay  by  him,  embracing  him,  and  in  the 
last  violence  of  his  anguish  he  hugged  her  to  his  breast. 
Then  it  was  over,  and  he  sank.  And  the  twain  were  as  a 
great  wave  heaving  upon  the  shore;  lo,  part  is  wasted 
where  it  falleth;  part  draweth  back  into  the  waters.  So 
was  it ! 

Now  the  chill  of  dawn  breathed  blue  on  the  lake  and 
was  astir  among  the  dewy  leaves  of  the  wood,  when 
Bhanavar  arose  from  the  body  of  the  youth,  and  as  she 
rose  she  saw  that  his  mare  Zoora,  his  father's  first  gift, 
was  snuffing  at  the  ear  of  her  dead  master,  and  pawing 
him.  At  that  sight  the  tears  poured  from  her  eyelids,  and 
she  sobbed  out  to  the  mare,  "0  Zoora!  never  mare  bore 
nobler  burden  on  her  back  than  thou  in  Zurvan  my  be- 
trothed. Zoora !  thou  weepest,  for  death  is  first  known  to 
thee  in  the  dearest  thing  that  was  thine ;  as  to  me,  in  the 
dearest  that  was  mine  !  And  0  Zoora,  steed  of  Zurvan  my 
betrothed,  there 's  no  loveliness  for  us  in  life,  for  the  love- 
liest is  gone;  and  let  us  die,  Zoora,  mare  of  Zurvan  my 
betrothed,  for  what  is  dying  to  us,  0  Zoora,  who  cherish 
beyond  all  that  which  death  has  taken?" 

So  spake  she  to  Zoora  the  mare,  kissing  her,  and  run. 
ning  her  fingers  through  the  long  white  mane  of  the  mare. 


28  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Then  she  stooped  to  the  body  of  her  betrothed,  and  toiled 
with  it  to  lift  it  across  the  crimson  saddle-cloth  that  was 
on  the  back  of  Zoora;  and  the  mare  knelt  to  her,  that  she 
might  lay  on  her  back  the  body  of  Zurvan;  when  that  was 
done,  Bhanavar  paced  beside  Zoora  the  mare,  weeping  and 
caressing  her,  reminding  her  of  the  deeds  of  Zurvan,  and 
the  battles  she  had  borne  him  to,  and  his  greatness  and  his 
gentleness.  And  the  mare  went  without  leading.  It  was 
broad  light  when  they  had  passed  the  glade  and  the  cov- 
ert of  the  wood.  Before  them,  between  great  mountains, 
glimmered  a  space  of  rolling  grass  fed  to  deep  greenness 
by  many  brooks.  The  shadow  of  a  mountain  was  over  it, 
and  one  slant  of  the  rising  sun,  down  a  glade  of  the  moun- 
tain, touched  the  green  tent  of  the  Emir,  where  it  stood  a 
little  apart  from  the  others  of  his  tribe.  Goats  and  asses 
of  the  tribe  were  pasturing  in  the  quiet,  but  save  them 
nothing  moved  among  the  tents,  and  it  was  deep  peaceful- 
ness.  Bhanavar  led  Zoora  slowly  before  the  tent  of  the 
Emir,  and  disburdened  Zoora  of  the  helpless  weight,  and 
spread  the  long  fair  limbs  of  the  youth  lengthwise  across 
the  threshold  of  the  Emir's  tent,  sitting  away  from  it  with 
clasped  hands,  regarding  it.  Ere  long  the  Emir  came 
forth,  and  his  foot  was  on  the  body  of  his  son,  and  he 
knew  death  on  the  chin  and  the  eyes  of  Zurvan,  his  sole 
son.  Now  the  Emir  was  old,  and  with  the  shock  of  that 
sight  the  world  darkened  before  him,  and  he  gave  forth  a 
groan  and  stumbled  over  the  sunken  breast  of  Zurvan,  and 
stretched  over  him  as  one  without  life.  When  Bhanavar 
saw  that  old  man  stretched  over  the  body  of  his  son,  she 
sickened,  and  her  ear  was  filled  with  the  wailings  of  grief 
that  would  arise,  and  she  stood  up  and  stole  away  from 
the  habitations  of  the  tribe,  stricken  with  her  guilt,  and 
wandered  beyond  the  mountains,  knowing  not  whither  she 
went,  looking  on  no  living  thing,  for  the  sight  of  a  thing 
that  moved  was  hateful  to  her,  and  all  sounds  were  sounds 
of  lamentation  for  a  great  loss. 

Now,  she  had  wandered  on  alone  two  days  and  two 
nights,  and  nigh  morn  she  was  seized  with  a  swoon  of 
weariness,  and  fell  forward  with  her  face  to  the  earth,  and 
lay  there  prostrate,  even  as  one  that  is  adoving  the  shrine; 
and  it  was  on  the  sands  of  the  desert  she  was  lying.  It 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAB  29 

chanced  that  the  Chieftain  of  a  desert  tribe  passed  at  mid- 
day by  the  spot,  and  seeing  the  figure  of  a  damsel  un- 
shaded by  any  shade  of  tree  or  herb  or  tent-covering,  and 
prostrate  on  the  sands,  he  reined  his  steed  and  leaned  for- 
ward to  her,  and  called  to  her.  Then  as  she  answered 
nothing  he  dismounted,  and  thrust  his  arm  softly  beneath 
her  and  lifted  her  gently ;  and  her  swoon  had  the  white- 
ness of  death,  so  that  he  thought  her  dead  verily,  and  the 
marvel  of  her  great  loveliness  in  death  smote  the  heart  on 
his  ribs  as  with  a  blow,  and  the  powers  of  life  went  from 
him  a  moment  as  he  looked  on  her  and  the  long  dark  wet 
lashes  that  clung  to  her  colourless  face,  as  at  night  in 
groves  where  the  betrothed  ones  wander,  the  slender  leaves 
of  the  acacia  spread  darkly  over  the  full  moon.  And  he 
cried,  "  'T  is  a  loveliness  that  maketh  the  soul  yearn  to  the 
cold  bosom  of  death,  so  lovely,  exceeding  all  that  liveth, 
is  she!" 

After  he  had  contemplated  her  longwhile,  he  snatched 
his  sight  from  her,  and  swung  her  swiftly  on  the  back  oi 
his  mare,  aud  leaned  her  on  one  arm,  and  sped  westward 
over  the  sands  of  the  desert,  halting  not  till  he  was  in  the 
hum  of  many  tents,  and  the  sun  of  that  day  hung  a  red 
half-circle  across  the  sand.  He  alighted  before  the  tent 
of  his  mother,  and  sent  women  in  to  her.  When  his 
mother  came  forth  to  the  greeting  of  her  son,  he  said  no 
word,  but  pointed  to  the  damsel  where  he  had  leaned  her 
at  the  threshold  of  her  tent.  His  mother  kissed  him  on 
the  forehead,  and  turned  her  shoulder  to  peer  upon  the 
damsel.  But  when  she  had  close  view  of  Bhanavar,  she 
spat,  and  scattered  her  hair,  and  stamped,  and  cried  aloud, 
"  Away  with  her !  this  slut  of  darkness  !  there  's  poison  on 
her  very  skirts,  and  evil  in  the  look  of  her." 

Then  said  he,  "  0  Rukrooth,  my  mother !  art  thou  lost 
to  charity  and  the  uses  of  kindliness  and  the  laws  of  hos- 
pitality, that  thou  talkest  this  of  the  damsel,  a  stranger  ? 
Take  her  now  in,  and  if  she  be  past  help,  as  I  fear,  be  it 
thy  care  to  give  her  decent  burial;  and  if  she.  live,  O  my 
mother,  tend  her  for  the  love  of  thy  son,  and  for  the  love 
of  him  be  gentle  with  her." 

While  he  spake,  Rukrooth  his  mother  knelt  over  the 
damsel,  as  a  cat  that  sniff eth  the  suspected  dish;  and  she 


80  THE  SHAVING   OF  SHAGPAT 

flashed  her  eyes  back  on  him,  exclaiming  scornfully,  "So 
art  thou  befooled,  and  the  poison  is  already  in  thee?  But 
I  will  not  have  her,  O  my  son !  and  thou,  Ruark,  my  son, 
neither  shalt  thou  have  her.  What !  will  I  not  die  to  save 
thee  from  a  harm  ?  Surely  thy  frown  is  little  to  me,  my 
son,  if  I  save  thee  from  a  harm;  and  the  damsel  here  is 
—  I  shudder  to  think  what ;  but  never  lay  shadow  across 
my  threshold  dark  as  this!" 

Now,  Ruark  gazed  upon  his  mother,  and  upon  Bhanavar, 
and  the  face  of  Bhanavar  was  as  a  babe  in  sleep,  and  his 
soul  melted  to  the  parted  sweetness  of  her  soft  little  curved 
red  lips  and  her  closed  eyelids,  and  her  innocent  open 
hands,  where  she  lay  at  the  threshold  of  the  tent,  uncon- 
scious of  hardness  and  the  sayings  of  the  unjust.  So  he 
cried  fiercely,  "No  paltering,  0  Rukrooth,  my  mother:  and 
if  not  to  thy  tent,  then  to  mine !  " 

When  she  heard  him  say  that  in  the  voice  of  his  anger, 
Rukrooth  fixed  her  eyes  on  him  sorrowfully,  and  sighed, 
and  went  up  to  him  and  drew  his  head  once  against  her 
heart,  and  retreated  into  the  tent,  bidding  the  women  that 
were  there  bring  in  the  body  of  the  damsel. 

It  was  the  morning  of  another  day  when  Bhanavar 
awoke;  and  she  awoke  in  a  dream  of  Zoora,  the  mare  of 
Zurvan  her  betrothed,  that  was  dead,  and  the  name  of 
Zoora  was  on  her  tongue  as  she  started  up.  She  was  on  a 
couch  of  silk  and  leopard-skins ;  at  her  feet  a  fair  young 
girl  with  a  fan  of  pheasant  feathers.  She  stared  at  the 
hangings  of  the  tent,  which  were  richer  than  those  of  her 
own  tribe;  the  cloths,  and  the  cushions,  and  the  embroid- 
eries; and  the  strangeness  of  all  was  pain  to  her,  she  knew 
not  why.  Then  wept  she  bitterly,  and  with  her  tears  the 
memory  of  what  had  been  came  back  to  her,  and  she 
opened  her  arms  to  take  into  them  the  little  girl  that 
fanned  her,  that  she  might  love  something  and  be  beloved 
awhile;  and  the  child  sobbed  with  her.  After  a  time 
Bhanavar  said,  "Where  am  I,  and  amongst  whom,  my 
child,  my  sister  ?" 

And  the  child  answered  her,  "  Surely  in  the  tent  of  the 
mother  of  Ruark,  the  chief,  even  chief  of  the  Beni-Asser, 
and  he  found  thee  in  the  desert,  nigh  dead.  'T  is  so;  and 
this  morning  will  Ruark  be  gone  to  meet  the  challenge  of 


THE  STORY  OP  BHANAVAR  31 

Ebn  Asrac,  and  they  will  fight  at  the  foot  of  the  Snow 
Mountains,  and  the  shadow  of  yonder  date-palin  will  be 
over  our  tent  here  at  the  hour  they  fight,  and  I  shall  sing 
for  Kuark,  and  kneel  here  in  the  darkness  of  the  shadow." 

While  the  child  was  speaking  there  entered  to  them  a 
tall  aged  woman,  with  one  swathe  of  a  turban  across  her 
long  level  brows;  and  she  had  hard  black  eyes,  and  close 
lips  and  a  square  chin;  and  it  was  the  mother  of  Ruark. 
She  strode  forward  toward  Bhanavar  to  greet  her,  and 
folded  her  legs  before  the  damsel.  Presently  she  said, 
"Tell  me  thy  story,  and  of  thy  coming  into  the  hands  of 
Kuark  my  son." 

Bhanavar  shuddered.  So  Kukrooth  dismissed  the  little 
maiden  from  the  chamber  of  the  tent,  and  laid  her  left 
hand  on  one  arm  of  Bhanavar,  and  said,  "I  would  know 
whence  comest  thou,  that  we  may  deal  well  by  thee  and 
thy  people  that  have  lost  thee." 

The  touch  of  a  hand  was  as  the  touch  of  a  corpse  to 
Bhanavar,  and  the  damsel  was  constrained  to  speak  by  a 
power  she  knew  not  of,  and  she  told  all  to  Rukrooth  of 
what  had  been,  the  great  misery,  and  the  wickedness  that 
was  hers.  Then  Ruark's  mother  took  hold  of  Bhanavar  a 
strong  grasp,  and  eyed  her  long,  piteously,  and  with  re- 
proach, and  rocked  forward  and  back,  and  kept  rocking  to 
and  fro,  crying  at  intervals,  "  0  Ruark  !  my  son  !  my  son ! 
this  feared  I,  and  thou  art  not  the  first !  and  I  saw  it,  I 
saw  it !  Well-away  !  why  came  she  in  thy  way,  —  why, 
Ruark,  my  son,  my  fire-eye?  Canst  thou  be  saved  by  me, 
fated  that  thou  art,  thou  fair-face  ?  And  wilt  thou  be 
saved  by  me,  my  son,  ere  thy  story  be  told  in  tears  as  this 
one,  that  is  as  thine  to  me  ?  And  thou  wilt  seize  a  jewel, 
Ruark,  O  thou  soul  of  wrath,  my  son,  my  dazzling  Chief, 
and  seize  it  to  wear  it,  and  think  it  bliss,  this  lovely  jewel ; 
but  't  is  an  anguish  endless  and  for  ever,  my  son !  Woe  's 
me  !  an  anguish  is  she  without  end." 

Rukrooth  continued  moaning,  and  the  thought  that  was 
in  the  mother  of  Ruark  struck  Bhanavar  like  a  light  in 
the  land  of  despair  that  darkly  illumineth  the  dreaded 
gulfs  and  abysses  of  the  land,  and  she  knew  herself  black 
in  evil;  and  the  scourge  of  her  guilt  was  upon  her,  and 
che  cursed  herself  before  Rukrooth,  and  fawned  before  her, 


32  'xflE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

abasing  her  body.  So  Rukrooth  was  drawn  to  the  damsel 
by  the  violence  of  her  self-accusing  and  her  abandonment 
to  grief,  and  lifted  her,  and  comforted  her,  and  after 
awhile  they  had  gentle  speech  together,  and  the  two 
women  opened  their  hearts  and  wept.  Then  it  was  agreed 
between  them  that  Bhanavar  should  depart  from  the  en- 
campment of  the  tribe  before  the  return  of  Ruark,  and 
seek  shelter  among  her  own  people  again,  and  aid  them 
and  the  tribe  of  Zurvan,  her  betrothed,  by  the  might  of 
the  Jewel  which  was  hers,  fulfilling  the  desire  of  Zurvan. 
The  rnind  of  the  damsel  was  lowly,  and  her  soul  yearned 
for  the  blessing  of  Rukrooth. 

Darkness  hung  over  the  tent  from  the  shadow  of  the 
date-palm  when  Bhanavar  departed,  and  the  blessing  of 
Rukrooth  was  on  her  head.  She  went  forth  fairly  mounted 
on  a  fresh  steed;  beside  her  two  warriors  of  them  that 
were  left  to  guard  the  encampment  of  the  tribe  of  Ruark 
in  his  absence ;  and  Rukrooth  watched  at  the  threshold  of 
her  tent  for  the  coming  of  Ruark. 

When  it  was  middle  night,  and  the  splendour  of  the 
moon  was  beaming  on  the  edge  of  the  desert,  Bhanavar 
alighted  to  rest  by  the  twigs  of  a  tamarisk  that  stood 
singly  on  the  sands.  The  two  warriors  tied  the  fetlocks 
of  their  steeds,  and  spread  shawls  for  her,  and  watched 
over  her  while  she  slept.  And  the  damsel  dreamed,  and 
the  roaring  of  the  lion  was  hoarse  in  her  dream,  and  it 
was  to  her  as  were  she  the  red  whirlwind  of  the  desert 
before  whom  all  bowed  in  terror,  the  Arab,  the  wild  horse- 
men, and  the  caravans  of  pilgrimage;  and  none  could  stay 
her,  neither  could  she  stay  herself,  for  the  curse  of  Allah 
was  on  men  by  reason  of  her  guilt;  and  she  went  swinging 
great  folds  of  darkness  across  kingdoms  and  empires  of 
earth  where  joy  was  and  peace  of  spirit;  and  in  her  track 
amazement  and  calamity,  and  the  whitened  bones  of  noble 
youths,  valorous  chieftains.  In  that  horror  of  her  dream 
she  stood  up  suddenly,  and  thrust  forth  her  hands  as  to 
avert  an  evil,  and  advanced  a  step;  and  with  the  act  her 
dream  was  cloven  and  she  awoke,  and  lo !  it  was  sunrise; 
and  where  had  been  two  warriors  of  the  Beni-Asser,  were 
now  five,  and  besides  her  own  steed  five  others,  one  the 
steed  of  Ruark,  and  Ruark  with  them  that  watched  over 


THE   STORY   OF   BHANAVAB  33 

iher:  pale  was  the  visage  of  the  Chief.  Euark  eyed 
Bhanavar,  and  signalled  to  his  followers,  and  they,  when 
they  had  lifted  the  damsel  to  her  steed  and  placed  her  in 
their  front,  mounted  likewise,  and  flourished  their  lances 
with  cries,  and  jerked  their  heels  to  the  flanks  of  their 
steeds,  and  stretched  forward  till  their  beards  were  mixed 
with  the  tossing  manes,  and  the  dust  rose  after  them  crim- 
son in  the  sun.  So  they  coursed  away,  speeding  behind 
their  Chief  and  Bhanavar;  sweet  were  the  desert  herbs 
under  their  crushing  hooves!  Ere  the  shadow  of  the 
acacia  measured  less  than  its  height  they  came  upon  a 
spring  of  silver  water,  and  Euark  leaped  from  his  steed, 
and  Bhanavar  from  hers,  and  they  performed  their  ablu- 
tions by  that  spring,  and  ate  and  drank,  and  watered  their 
steeds.  While  they  were  there  Bhanavar  lifted  her  eyes 
to  Euark,  and  said,  "  Whither  takest  thou  me,  0  my 
Chief  ?  " 

His  brow  was  stern,  and  he  answered,  "Surely  to  the 
dwelling  of  thy  tribe." 

Then  she  wept,  and  pulled  her  veil  close,  murmuring, 
"'T is  well!" 

They  spake  no  further,  and  pursued  their  journey  towards 
the  mountains  and  across  the  desert  that  was  as  a  sea  asleep 
in  the  blazing  heat,  and  the  sun  till  his  setting  threw  no 
shade  upon  the  sands  bigger  than  what  was  broad  above 
them.  By  the  beams  of  the  growing  moon  they  entered 
the  first  gorge  of  the  mountains.  Here  they  relaxed  the 
swiftness  of  their  pace,  picking  their  way  over  broken 
rocks  and  stunted  shrubs,  and  the  mesh  of  spotted  creep- 
ing plants;  all  around  them  in  shadow  a  freshness  of  noisy 
rivulets  and  cool  scents  of  flowers,  asphodel  and  rose 
blooming  in  plots  from  the  crevices  of  the  crags.  These, 
as  the  troop  advanced,  wound  and  widened,  gradually  re- 
ceding, and  their  summits,  which  were  silver  in  the  moon- 
light, took  in  the  distance  a  robe  of  purple,  and  the  sides 
of  the  mountains  were  rounded  away  in  purple  beyond  a 
space  of  emerald  pasture.  Now,  Euark  beheld  the  heavi- 
ness of  Bhanavar,  and  that  she  drooped  in  her  seat,  and 
he  halted  her  by  a  cave  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains, 
browed  with  white  broom.  Before  it,  over  grass  and 
cresses,  ran  a  rill ,  a  branch  from  others,  larger  ones,  that 


34  THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

went  hurrying  from  the  heights  to  feed  the  meadows  below, 
and  Bhaiiavar  dipped  her  hand  in  the  rill,  and  thought, 
"  I  am  no  more  as  thou,  rill  of  the  mountain,  but  a  desert 
thing !  Thy  way  is  forward,  thy  end  before  thee;  but  I  go 
this  way  and  that;  my  end  is  dark  to  me;  not  a  life  is  mine 
that  will  have  its  close  kissing  the  cold  cheeks  of  the  saffron- 
crocus.  Cold  art  thou,  and  I  —  flames  !  They  that  lean  to 
thee  are  refreshed,  they  that  touch  me  perish."  Then  she 
looked  forth  on  the  stars  that  were  above  the  purple  heights, 
and  the  blushes  of  inner  heaven  that  streamed  up  the  sky, 
and  a  fear  of  meeting  the  eyes  of  her  kindred  possessed 
her,  and  she  cried  out  to  Ruark,  "0  Chief  of  the  Beni- 
Asser,  must  this  be  ?  and  is  there  no  help  for  it,  but  that 
I  return  among  them  that  look  on  me  basely  ?  " 

Ruark  stooped  to  her  and  said,  "Tell  me  thy  name." 

She  answered,  "Bhanavar  is  my  name  with  that  people." 

And  he  whispered,  "Surely  when  they  speak  of  thee  they 
say  not  Bhanavar  solely,  but  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful?" 

She  started  and  sought  the  eye  of  the  Chief,  and  it  was 
fixed  on  her  face  in  a  softened  light,  as  if  his  soul  had  said 
that  thing.  Then  she  sighed,  and  exclaimed,  "Unhappy 
are  the  beautiful !  born  to  misery !  Allah  dressed  them  in 
his  grace  and  favour  for  their  certain  wretchedness !  Lo, 
their  countenances  are  as  the  sun,  their  existence  as  the 
desert;  barren  are  they  in  fruits  and  waters,  a  snare  to 
themselves  and  to  others  ! " 

Now,  the  Chief  leaned  to  her  yet  nearer,  saying,  "  Show 
me  the  Jewel." 

Bhanavar  caught  up  her  hands  and  clenched  them,  and 
she  cried  bitterly,  "  'T  is  known  to  thee !  She  told  thee, 
and  there  be  none  that  know  it  not!" 

Arising,  she  thrust  her  hand  into  her  bosom,  and  held 
forth  the  Jewel  in  the  palm  of  her  white  hand.  When 
Buark  beheld  the  marvel  of  the  Jewel,  and  the  redness 
moving  in  it  as  of  a  panting  heart,  and  the  flashing  eye  of 
fire  that  it  was,  and  all  its  glory,  he  cried,  "  It  was  indeed 
a  Jewel  for  queens  to  covet  from  the  Serpent,  and  a  prize 
the  noblest  might  risk  all  to  win  as  a  gift  for  thee." 

Then  she  said,  "Thy  voice  is  friendly  with  me,  0 
Kuark!  and  thou  soornest  not  the  creature  that  I  am. 
Counsel  me  as  to  my  dealing  with  the  Jewel." 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAJR  35 

Surely  the  eyes  of  the  Chief  met  the  eyes  of  Bhanavar 
as  when  the  brightest  stars  of  midnight  are  doubled  in  a 
clear  dark  lake,  and  he  sang  in  measured  music: 

"  Shall  I  counsel  the  moon  in  her  ascending  ? 
Stay  under  that  tall  palm-tree  through  the  night  J 
Rest  on  the  mountain-slope 
By  the  couching  antelope, 
O  thou  enthroned  supremacy  of  light ! 

And  for  ever  the  lustre  thou  art  lending, 
Lean  on  the  fair  long  brook  that  leaps  and  leaps,-— 
Silvery  leaps  and  falls. 
Hang  by  the  mountain  walls, 
Moon  !  and  arise  no  more  to  crown  the  steeps, 
For  a  danger  and  dolour  is  thy  wending  ! 

And,  0  Bhanavar,  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful !  shall  I  coun- 
sel thee,  moon  of  loveliness,  —  bright,  full,  perfect  moon ! 
—  counsel  thee  not  to  ascend  and  be  seen  and  worshipped 
of  men,  sitting  above  them  in  majesty,  thou  that  art  thy- 
self the  Jewel  beyond  price  ?  Wah !  what  if  thou  cast  it 
from  thee  ?  —  thy  beauty  remaineth ! " 

And  Bhanavar  smote  her  palms  in  the  moonlight,  and 
exclaimed,  "  How  then  shall  I  escape  this  in  me,  which  is 
a  curse  to  them  that  approach  me  ?  " 

And  he  replied : 

Long  we  the  less  for  the  pearl  of  the  sea 
Because  in  its  depths  there  's  the  death  we  flee  t 
Long  we  the  less,  the  less,  woe 's  me  ! 
Because  thou  art  deathly,  —  the  less  for  thee  t 

She  sang  aloud  among  the  rocks  and  the  caves  and  the 
illumined  waters : 

Destiny  !  Destiny !  why  am  I  so  dark  * 

I  that  have  beauty  and  love  to  be  fair. 
Destiny  !  Destiny !  am  I  but  a  spark 

Track'd  under  heaven  in  flames  and  despair? 
Destiny !  Destiny !  why  am  I  desired 

Thus  like  a  poisonous  fruit,  deadly  sweet  ? 
Destiny  !  Destiny !  lo,  my  soul  is  tired, 

Make  me  thy  plaything  no  more,  I  entreat ! 

Ruark  laughed  low,  and  said,  "What  is  this  dread  of 
Rukrooth  my  mother  which  weigheth  on  thee  but  silliness! 
For  she  saw  thee  willing  to  do  well  by  her;  and  thou  with 


86  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

thy  Jewel,  O  Bhanavar,  do  thou  but  well  by  thyself,  and 
there  will  be  no  woman  such  as  thou  in  power  and  excel- 
lence of  endowments,  as  there  is  nowhere  one  such  as  thou 
in  beauty."  Then  he  sighed  to  her,  "Dare  I  look  up  to 
thee,  0  my  Queen  of  Serpents  ?  "  And  he  breathed  as  on* 
that  is  losing  breath,  and  the  words  came  from  him,  "  My 
soul  is  thine !  " 

When  she  heard  him  say  this,  great  trouble  was  on  the 
damsel,  for  his  voice  was  not  the  voice  of  Zurvan  her  be- 
trothed; and  she  remembered  the  sorrow  of  Rukrooth. 
She  would  have  fled  from  him,  but  a  dread  of  the  displeas- 
ure of  the  Chief  restrained  her,  knowing  Euark  a  soul  of 
wrath.  Her  eyelids  dropped  and  the  Chief  gazed  on  her 
eagerly,  and  sang  in  a  passion  of  praises  of  her;  the  fires 
of  his  love  had  a  tongue,  his  speech  was  a  torrent  of  flame 
at  the  feet  of  the  damsel.  And  Bhanavar  exclaimed,  "  Oh, 
what  am  I,  what  am  I,  who  have  slain  my  love,  my  lover! 
—  that  one  should  love  me  and  call  on  me  for  love  ?  My 
life  is  a  long  weeping  for  him  1  Death  is  my  wooer ! " 

Ruark  still  pleaded  with  her,  and  she  said  in  fair  gentle- 
ness, "Speak  not  of  it  now  in  the  freshness  of  my  grief! 
Other  times  and  seasons  are  there.  My  soul  is  but  newly 
widowed ! " 

Fierce  was  the  eye  of  the  Chief,  and  he  sprang  up,  cry- 
ing, "By  the  life  of  my  head,  I  know  thy  wiles  and  the 
reading  of  these  delays:  but  I  '11  never  leave  thee,  nor  lose 
sight  of  thee,  Bhanavar!  And  think  not  to  fly  from  me, 
thou  subtle,  brilliant  Serpent !  for  thy  track  is  my  track, 
and  thy  condition  my  condition,  and  thy  fate  my  fate.  By 
Allah!  this  is  so." 

Then  he  strode  from  her  swiftly,  and  called  to  his 
Arabs.  They  had  kindled  a  fire  to  roast  the  flesh  of  a 
buffalo,  slaughtered  by  them  from  among  a  herd,  and  were 
laughing  and  singing  beside  the  flames  of  the  fire.  So  by 
the  direction  of  their  Chief  the  Arabs  brought  slices  of 
sweet  buffalo-flesh  to  Bhanavar,  with  cakes  of  grain :  and 
Bhanavar  ate  alone,  and  drank  from  the  waters  before  her. 
Then  they  laid  for  her  a  couch  within  the  cave,  and  the 
aching  of  her  spirit  was  lulled,  and  she  slept  there  a 
dreamless  sleep  till  morning. 

By  the  morning  light  Bhanavar  looked  abroad  for  the 


THE  STORY   OF  BHANAVAB  37 

Chief,  and  he  was  nowhere  by.  A  pang  of  violent  hope 
struck  through  her,  and  she  pressed  her  bosom,  praying  he 
might  have  left  her,  and  climbed  the  clefts  and  ledges  of 
the  mountain  to  search  over  the  fair  expanse  of  pasture 
beyond,  for  a  trace  of  him  departing.  The  sun  was  on  the 
heads  of  the  heavy  flowers ,  and  a  flood  of  gold  down  the 
gorges,  and  a  delicate  rose  hue  on  the  distant  peaks  and 
upper  dells  of  snow,  which  were  as  a  crown  to  the  scene 
she  surveyed ;  but  no  sight  of  Euark  had  she.  And  now 
she  was  beginning  to  rejoice,  but  on  a  sudden  her  eye 
caught  far  to  east  a  glimpse  of  something  in  motion  across 
an  even  slope  of  the  lower  hills  leaning  to  the  valley;  and 
it  was  a  herd  that  rushed  forward,  like  a  black  torrent  of 
the  mountains  flinging  foam  this  way  and  that,  and  after 
the  herd  and  at  the  sides  of  the  herd  she  distinguished  the 
white  cloaks  and  scarfs  and  glittering  steel  of  the  Arabs 
of  Ruark.  Presently  she  saw  a  horseman  break  from  the 
rest,  and  race  in  a  line  toward  her.  She  knew  this  one 
for  Ruark,  and  sighed  and  descended  slowly  to  meet  him. 
The  greeting  of  the  Chief  was  sharp,  his  manner  wild,  and 
he  said  little  ere  he  said,  "  I  will  see  thee  under  the  light 
of  the  Jewel,  so  tie  it  in  a  band  and  set  it  on  thy  brow, 
Bhanavar ! " 

Her  mouth  was  open  to  intercede  with  his  desire,  but 
his  forehead  became  black  as  night,  and  he  shouted  in  the 
thunder  of  his  lion-voice,  "  Do  this !  " 

She  took  the  Jewel  from  its  warm  bed  in  her  bosom, 
and  held  it,  and  got  together  a  band  of  green  weeds,  and 
set  it  in  the  middle  of  the  band,  and  tied  the  band  on  her 
brow,  and  lifted  her  countenance  to  the  Chief.  Ruark 
stood  back  from  her  and  gazed  on  her;  and  he  would  have 
veiled  his  sight  from  her,  but  his  hand  fell.  Then  the 
might  of  her  loveliness  seized  Bhanavar  likewise,  and  the 
full  orbs  of  her  eyes  glowed  on  the  Chief  as  on  a  mirror, 
and  she  moved  her  serpent  figure  scornfully,  and  smiled, 
saying,  "Is  it  well?" 

And  he,  when  he  could  speak,  replied,  "'Tis  well!  I 
have  seen  thee  !  for  now  can  I  die  this  day,  if  it  be  that  I 
am  to  die.  And  well  it  is  1  for  now  know  I  there  is  truly 
no  place  but  the  tomb  can  hold  me  from  thee!" 

Bhanavar  put  the  Jewel  from,  her  brow  into  her  bosom, 


88  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

and  questioned  him,  "What  is  thy  dread  this  day,  0  my 
Chief  ?  " 

He  answered  her  gravely,  "I  have  seen  Rukrooth  my 
mother  while  I  slept;  and  she  was  weeping,  weeping  by  a 
stream,  yea,  a  stream  of  blood;  and  it  was  a  stream  that 
flowed  in  a  hundred  gushes  from  her  own  veins.  The  sun 
of  this  dawn  now,  seest  thou  not  ?  't  is  over-crimson ;  the 
vulture  hangeth  low  down  yonder  valley."  And  he  cried 
to  her,  "Haste!  mount  with  me;  for  I  have  told  Rukrooth 
a  thing;  and  I  know  that  woman  crafty  in  the  thwarting 
of  schemes;  such  a  fox  is  she  where  aught  accordeth  not 
with  her  forecastings,  and  the  judgement  of  her  love  for 
me!  By  Allah!  'twere  well  we  clash  not;  for  that  I  will 
do  I  do,  and  that  she  will  do  doth  she." 

So  the  twain  mounted  their  steeds,  and  Ruark  gathered 
his  Arabs  and  placed  them,  some  in  advance,  some  on 
either  side  of  Bhanavar;  and  they  rode  forward  to  the 
head  of  the  valley,  and  across  the  meadows,  through  the 
blushing  crowds  of  flowers,  baths  of  freshest  scents,  cool 
breezes  that  awoke  in  the  nostrils  of  the  mares  neighings 
of  delight;  and  these  pranced  and  curvetted  and  swung 
their  tails,  and  gave  expression  to  their  joy  in  many  grace- 
ful fashions;  but  a  gloom  was  on  Ruark,  and  a  quick  fire 
in  his  falcon-eye,  and  he  rode  with  heels  alert  on  the  flanks 
of  his  mare,  dashing  onward  to  right  and  left,  as  do  they 
that  beat  the  jungle  for  the  crouching  tiger.  Once,  when 
he  was  well-nigh  half  a  league  in  front,  he  wheeled  his 
mare,  and  raced  back  full  on  Bhanavar,  grasping  her 
bridle,  and  hissing  between  his  teeth,  "Not  a  soul  shall 
have  thee  save  I :  by  the  tomb  of  my  fathers,  never,  while 
life  is  with  us !  " 

And  he  taunted  her  with  bitter  names,  and  was  as  one 
in  the  madness  of  intoxication,  drunken  with  the  aspect 
of  her  matchless  beauty  and  with  exceeding  love  for  her 
A.nd  Bhanavar  knew  that  the  dread  of  a  mishap  was  on 
the  mind  of  the  Chief. 

Now,  the  space  of  pasture  was  behind  them  a  broad  lake 
of  gold  and  jasper,  and  they  entered  a  region  of  hills, 
heights,  and  fastnesses,  robed  in  forests  that  rose  in 
eounded  swells  of  leafage,  each  over  each  —  above  all 
points  of  snow  that  were  as  flickering  silver  flames  in  the 


THE  STORY   OF  BHANAVAR  39 

farthest  blue.  This  was  the  country  of  Bhanavar,  and  she 
gazed  mournfully  on  the  glades  of  golden  green  and  the 
glens  of  iron  blackness,  and  the  wild  flowers,  wild  blos- 
soms, and  weeds  well  known  to  her  that  would  not  let  her 
memory  rest,  and  were  wistful  of  what  had  been.  And 
she  thought,  "  My  sisters  tend  the  flocks,  my  mother  spin- 
neth  with  the  maidens  of  the  tribe,  my  father  hunteth; 
how  shall  I  come  among  them  but  strange?  Coldly  will 
they  regard  me;  I  shall  feel  them  shudder  when  they  take 
me  to  their  bosoms." 

She  looked  on  Ruark  to  speak  with  him,  but  the  mouth 
of  the  Chief  was  set  and  white ;  and  even  while  she  looked, 
cries  of  treason  and  battle  arose  from  the  Arabs  that  were 
ahead,  hidden  by  a  branching  wind  of  the  way  round  a 
mountain  slant.  Then  the  eyes  of  the  Chief  reddened,  his 
nostrils  grew  wide,  the  darkness  of  his  face  was  as  flame 
mixed  with  smoke,  and  he  seized  Bhanavar  and  hastened 
onward,  and  lo!  yonder  were  his  men  over-matched,  and 
warriors  of  the  mountains  bursting  on  them  from  an  am- 
bush on  all  sides.  Ruark  leapt  in  his  seat,  and  the  light 
of  combat  was  on  him,  and  he  dug  his  knees  into  his  mare, 
and  shouted  the  war-cry  of  his  tribe,  lifting  his  hands  as 
it  were  to  draw  down  wrath  from  the  very  heavens,  and 
rushed  to  the  encounter.  Says  the  poet: 

Hast  thou  seen  the  wild  herd  by  the  jungle  galloping  close  ? 

With  a  thunder  of  hooves  they  trample  what  heads  may  oppose : 

Terribly,  crushingly,  tempest-like,  onward  they  sweep  : 

But  a  spring  from  the  reeds,  and  the  panther  is  sprawling  in  air, 

And  with  muzzle  to  dust  and  black  beards  foam-lash'd,  here  and  there, 

Scatter'd  they  fly,  crimson-eyed,  track'd  with  blood  to  the  deep. 

Such  was  the  onset  of  Ruark,  his  stroke  the  stroke  of 
death;  and  ere  the  echoes  had  ceased  rolling  from  that  cry 
of  his,  the  mountain-warriors  were  scattered  before  him  on 
the  narrow  way,  hurled  down  the  scrub  of  the  mountain, 
even  as  dead  leaves  and  loosened  stones ;  so  like  an  arm  of 
lightning  was  the  Chief! 

Now  Ruark  pursued  them,  and  was  lost  to  Bhanavar 
round  a  slope  of  the  mountain.  She  quickened  her  pace 
to  mark  him  in  the  glory  of  the  battle,  and  behold !  a  sud- 
den darkness  enveloped  her,  and  she  felt  herself  in  the 
swathe  of  tightened  folds,  clasped  in  an  arm,  and  borne 


40  THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

rapidly  she  knew  not  whither,  for  she  could  hear  and  see 
nothing.  It  was  to  her  as  were  she  speeding  constantly 
downward  in  darkness  to  the  lower  realms  of  the  Genii  of 
the  Caucasus,  and  every  sense,  and  even  that  of  fear,  was 
stunned  in  her.  How  long  an  interval  had  elapsed  she 
knew  not,  when  the  folds  were  unwound;  but  it  was  light 
of  day,  and  the  faces  of  men,  and  they  were  warriors  that 
were  about  her,  warriors  of  the  mountain ;  but  of  Ruark 
and  his  Arabs  no  voice.  So  she  said  to  them,  "What  do 
ye  with  me?" 

And  one  among  them,  that  was  a  youth  of  dignity  and 
grace,  and  a  countenance  like  morning  on  the  mountains, 
answered,  "  The  will  of  Eukrooth,  O  lady !  and  it  is  the 
plight  of  him  we  bow  to  with  Rukrooth,  mother  of  the 
Desert-Chief." 

She  cried,  "Is  he  here,  the  Prince,  that  I  may  speak 
with  him?" 

The  same  young  warrior  made  answer,  "Not  so;  fore- 
warned was  he,  and  well  for  him!" 

Bhanavar  drew  her  robe  about  her  and  was  mute.  Ere 
the  setting  of  the  moon  they  journeyed  on  with  her;  and 
continued  so  three  days  and  nights  through  the  denies  and 
ravines  and  matted  growths  of  the  mountains.  On  the 
fourth  dawn  they  were  on  the  summit  of  a  lofty  mountain- 
rise;  below  them  the  sun,  shooting  a  current  of  gold  across 
leagues  of  sea.  Then  he  that  had  spoken  with  Bhanavar 
said,  "A  sail  will  come,"  and  a  sail  came  from  under  the 
sun.  Scarce  had  the  ship  grated  shore  when  the  warriors 
lifted  Bhanavar,  and  waded  through  the  water  with  her, 
and  placed  her  unwetted  in  the  ship,  and  one,  the  fair 
youth  among  the  warriors,  sprang  on  board  with  her,  re- 
maining by  her.  So  the  captain  pushed  off,  and  the  wind 
filled  the  sails,  and  Bhanavar  was  borne  over  the  lustre  of 
the  sea,  that  was  as  a  changing  opal  in  its  lustre,  even  as 
a  melted  jewel  flowing  from  the  fingers  of  the  maker,  the 
Almighty  One.  The  ship  ceased  not  sailing  till  they  came 
to  a  narrow  strait,  where  the  sea  was  but  a  river  between 
fair  sloping  hills  alight  with  towers  and  palaces,  opening 
a  way  to  a  great  city  that  was  in  its  radiance  over  the 
waters  of  the  sea  as  the  aspect  of  myriad  sheeny  white 
doves  breasting  the  wave.  Hitherto  the  young  warrior 


THE  STOEY  OP  BHANAVAB  41 

had  held  aloof  in  coldness  of  courtesy  from  Bhanavar;  but 
now  lie  sat  by  her,  and  said,  "  The  bond  between  my  prince 
and  Rukrooth  is  accomplished,  and  it  was  to  snatch  thee 
from  the  Chief  of  the  Beni-Asser  and  bring  thee  even  to 
this  city." 

Bhanavar  exclaimed,  "Allah  be  praised  in  all  things, 
and  his  will  done ! " 

The  youth  continued,  "Thou  art  alone  here,  O  lady, 
exposed  to  the  perils  of  loneliness ;  surely  it  were  well  if 
I  linger  with  thee  awhile,  and  see  to  thy  welfare  in  this 
city,  even  as  a  brother  with  a  sister;  and  I  will  deal  hon- 
ourably by  thee." 

Bhanavar  looked  on  the  young  warrior  and  blushed  at 
his  exceeding  sweetness  with  her;  the  soft  freshness  of  his 
voice  was  to  her  as  the  blossom-laden  breeze  in  the  valleys 
of  the  mountains,  and  she  breathed  low  the  words  of  her 
gratitude,  saying,  "If  I  am  not  a  burden,  let  this  be  so." 

Then  said  he,  "Know  me  by  my  name,  which  is  Al- 
meryl ;  and  that  we  seem  indeed  of  one  kin,  make  known 
unto  me  thine." 

She  replied,  "Ill-omened  is  it,  this  name  of  Bhanavar! " 

The  youth  among  warriors  gazed  on  her  a  moment  with 
the  fluttering  eye  of  bashfulness,  and  said,  "  Can  they  that 
have  marked  thee  call  thee  other  than  Bhanavar  the 
Beautiful?  " 

She  remembered  that  Ruark  had  spoken  in  like  manner, 
and  the  curse  of  her  beauty  smote  her,  and  she  thought, 
"  This  fair  youth,  he  hath  not  a  mother  to  watch  over  him 
and  ward  off  souls  of  evil.  I  dread  there  will  come  a  mis- 
hap to  him  through  me;  Allah  shield  him  from  it!  "  And 
she  sought  to  dissuade  him  from  resting  by  her,  but  he 
cried,  "  'T  is  but  a  choice  to  dwell  with  thee  or  with  the 
dogs  in  the  street  outside  thy  door,  0  Bhanavar!  " 

Now,  the  ship  sailed  close  up  to  the  quay,  and  cast  an- 
chor there  in  the  midst  of  other  ships  of  merchandise. 
Almeryl  then  threw  a  robe  over  his  mountain  dress  and 
spoke  with  the  captain  apart,  and  he  and  Bhanavar  took 
leave  of  the  captain,  aud  landed  on  the  quay  among  the 
porters,  and  of  these  one  stepped  forward  to  them  and 
shouted  cheerily,  "Where  be  the  burdens  and  the  bales, 
O  ye,  fair  couple  fashioned  in  the  eye  of  elegant  proper- 


42  THE   SHAVING  OF   SHAQPAT 

tions  ?    Ye  twin  palm-trees,  male  and  female !     Wullahy ! 
broad  is  the  back  of  your  servant." 

Almeryl  beckoned  to  him  that  he  should  follow  them, 
and  he  followed  them,  blessing  the  wind  that  had  brought 
them  to  that  city  and  the  day.  So  they  passed  through 
the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  the  porter  pointed 
out  this  house  and  that  house  wanting  an  occupant,  and 
Almeryl  fixed  on  one  in  an  open  thoroughfare  that  had 
before  it  a  grass-plot,  and  behind  a  garden  with  fountains 
and  flowers,  and  grass-knolls  shaded  by  trees ;  and  he  paid 
down  the  half  of  its  price,  and  had  it  furnished  before 
nightfall  sumptuously,  and  women  in  it  to  wait  on  Bhana- 
var,  and  stuffs  and  goods,  and  scents  for  the  bath,  —  all 
luxuries  whatsoever  that  tradesmen  and  merchants  there 
could  give  in  exchange  for  gold.  Then  Almeryl  dismissed 
the  porter  in  Allah's  name,  and  gladdened  his  spirit  with 
a  gift  over  the  due  of  his  hire  that  exalted  him  in  the  eyes 
of  the  porter,  and  the  porter  went  from  him,  exclaiming, 
"  In  extremity  Ukleet  is  thy  slave  1 "  and  he  sang : 

Shouldst  thon  see  a  slim  youth  with  a  damsel  arriving, 
Be  sure  't  is  the  hour  when  thy  fortune  is  thriving ; 
A  generous  fee  makes  the  members  so  supple 
That  over  the  world  they  could  carry  this  couple.] 

Now  so  it  was  that  the  youth  Almeryl  and  the  damsel 
Bhanavar  abode  in  the  city  they  had  come  to  weeks  and 
months,  and  life  to  either  of  them  as  the  flowing  of  a  gen- 
tle stream,  even  as  brother  and  sister  lived  they,  chastely, 
and  with  temperate  feasting.  Surely  the  youth  loved  her 
with  a  great  love,  and  the  heart  of  Bhanavar  turned  not 
from  him,  and  was  won  utterly  by  his  gentleness  and  noble- 
ness and  devotion ;  and  they  relied  on  each  other's  pres- 
ence for  any  joy,  and  were  desolate  in  absence,  as  the  poet 
says: 

When  we  must  part,  love, 
Such  is  my  smart,  love, 
Sweetness  is  savourless, 
Fairness  is  favourless ! 
But  when  in  sight,  love, 
We  two  unite,  love, 
Earth  has  no  sour  to  me ; 
Life  is  a  flower  to  me  I 


THE  STOKY  OP  BHANAVAR  43 

And  with  the  increase  of  every  day  their  passion  in- 
creased, and  the  revealing  light  in  their  eyes  brightened 
and  was  humid,  as  is  sung  by  him  that  luted  to  the  rage 
of  hearts: 

Even's  star  yonder 

Comes  like  a  crown  on  us, 
Larger  and  fonder 

Grows  its  orb  down  on  ns; 
So,  love,  my  love  for  thee 

Blossoms  increasingly ; 
So  sinks  it  in  the  sea, 

Waxing  unceasingly. 

On  a  night,  when  the  singing-girls  had  left  them,  the 
youth  could  contain  himself  no  more,  and  caught  the  two 
hands  of  Bhanavar  in  his,  saying,  "  This  that  is  in  my  soul 
for  thee  thou  knowest,  0  Bhanavar !  and  't  is  spoken  when 
I  move  and  when  I  breathe,  0  my  loved  one !  Tell  me 
then  the  cause  of  thy  shunning  me  whenever  I  would  speak 
of  it,  and  be  plain  with  thee." 

For  a  moment  Bhanavar  sought  to  release  herself  from 
his  hold,  but  the  love  in  his  eyes  entangled  her  soul  as  in 
a  net,  and  she  sank  forward  to  him,  and  sighed  under  his 
chin,  "  'T  was  indeed  my  very  love  of  thee  that  made  me." 

The  twain  embraced  and  kissed  a  long  kiss,  and  leaned 
sideways  together,  and  Bhanavar  said,  "  Hear  me,  what  I 
am." 

Then  she  related  the  story  of  the  Serpent  and  the  Jewel, 
and  of  the  death  of  her  betrothed.  When  it  was  ended, 
Almeryl  cried,  "And  was  this  all?  —  this  that  severed 
us?"  And  he  said,  "Hear  what  I  am." 

So  he  told  Bhanavar  how  Kukrooth,  the  mother  of 
Ruark,  had  sent  messengers  to  the  Prince  his  father, 
warning  him  of  the  passage  of  Ruark  through  the  moun- 
tains with  one  a  Queen  of  Serpents,  a  sorceress,  that  had 
bewitched  him  and  enthralled  him  in  a  mighty  love  for 
her,  to  the  ruin  of  Ruark;  and  how  the  Chief  was  on  his 
way  with  her  to  demand  her  in  marriage  at  the  hands  of 
her  parents;  and  the  words  of  Rukrooth  were,  "By  the 
service  that  was  between  thee  and  my  husband,  and  by  the 
death  he  died,  0  Prince,  rescue  the  Chief  my  son  from 
this  damsel,  and  entrap  her  from  him,  and  have  her  sent 


44  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

even  to  the  city  of  the  inland  sea,  for  no  less  a  distance 
than  that  keepeth  Ruark  from  her." 

And  Almeryl  continued,  "I  questioned  the  messengers 
myself,  and  they  told  me  the  marvel  of  thy  loveliness  and 
the  peril  to  him  that  looked  on  it,  so  I  swore  there  was  no 
power  should  keep  me  from  a  sight  of  thee,  O  my  loved 
one!  my  prize!  my  life!  my  sleek  antelope  of  the  hills! 
Surely  when  my  father  appointed  the  warriors  to  lie  in 
wait  for  thy  coming,  I  slipped  among  them,  so  that  they 
thought  it  ordered  by  him  1  should  head  them.  The  rest 
is  known  to  thee,  0  my  fountain  of  blissfulness!  but  the 
treachery  to  Ruark  was  the  treachery  of  Ebn  Asrac,  not 
of  such  warriors  as  we ;  and  I  would  have  fallen  on  Ebn 
Asrac,  had  not  Ruark  so  routed  that  man  without  faith. 
'T  was  all  as  I  have  said,  blessed  be  Allah  and  his  decrees!  " 

Bhanavar  gazed  on  her  beloved,  and  the  bridal  dew  over- 
flowed her  underlids,  and  she  loosed  her  hair  to  let  it 
flow,  part  over  her  shoulders,  part  over  his,  and  in  sighs 
that  were  the  measure  of  music  she  sang : 

I  thought  not  to  love  again ! 
But  now  I  love  as  I  loved  not  before ; 
I  love  not ;  I  adore ! 

O  my  beloved,  kiss,  kiss  me !  waste  thy  kisses  like  a  rain. 
Are  not  thy  red  lips  fain? 
Oh,  and  so  softly  they  greet ! 
Am  I  not  sweet  1 
Sweet  must  I  be  for  thee,  or  sweet  in  rain . 

Sweet  to  thee  only,  my  dear  love ! 
The  lamps  and  censers  sink,  but  cannot  cheat 
These  eyes  of  thiue  that  shoot  above 
Trembling  lustres  of  the  dove  ! 
A  darkness  drowns  all  lustres  :  still  I  see 

Thee,  my  love,  thee  ! 

Thee,  my  glory  of  gold,  from  head  to  feet ! 
Oh,  how  the  lids  of  the  world  close  quite  when  our  lips  meet  I 

Almeryl  strained  her  to  him,  and  responded: 

My  life  was  midnight  on  the  mountain  side ; 

Cold  stars  were  on  the  heights : 
There,  in  my  darkness,  I  had  lived  and  died, 

Content  with  nameless  lights. 
Sudden  I  saw  the  heavens  flush  with  a  beam, 

And  I  ascended  soon, 
And  evermore  over  mankind  supreme, 

Stood  silver  in  the  moon. 


THE   STOBY  OF  BHANAVAR  45 

And  lie  fell  playfully  into  a  new  metre,  singing: 

Who  will  paint  my  beloved 

In  musical  word  or  colour  ? 
Earth  with  an  envy  is  moved : 

Sea-shells  and  roses  she  brings, 

Gems  from  the  green  ocean-springs, 

Fruits  with  the  fairy  bloom-dews, 

Feathers  of  Paradise  hues, 

Waters  with  jewel-bright  falls, 

Ore  from  the  Genii-halls  : 
All  in  their  splendour  approved ; 
All ;  but,  match'd  with  my  beloved, 

Darker,  and  denser,  and  duller. 

Then  she  kissed  him  for  that  song,  and  sang: 

Once  to  be  beautiful  was  my  pride, 

And  I  blnsh'd  in  love  with  my  own  bright  brow: 
Once,  when  a  wooer  was  by  my  side, 

I  worshipp'd  the  object  that  had  his  vow : 
Different,  different,  different  now, 

Different  now  is  my  beauty  to  me : 
Different,  different,  different  now ! 

For  I  prize  it  alone  because  prized  by  tliee. 

Almeryl  stretched  his  arm  to  the  lattice,  and  drew  it 
open,  letting  in  the  soft  night  wind,  and  the  sound  of  the 
fountain  and  the  bulbul  and  the  beam  of  the  stars,  and 
versed  to  her  in  the  languor  of  deep  love: 

Whether  we  die  or  we  live, 

Matters  it  now  no  more  : 
Life  has  nought  further  to  give : 

Love  is  its  crown  and  its  core. 
Come  to  us  either,  we  're  rife,  — 
Death  or  life ! 

Death  can  take  not  away, 

Darkness  and  light  are  the  same : 
We  are  beyond  the  pale  ray, 

Wrapt  in  a  rosier  flame  : 
Welcome  which  will  to  our  breath,— 
Life  or  death ! 

So  did  these  two  lovers  lute  and  sing  in  the  stillness  of 
the  night,  pouring  into  each  other's  ears  melodies  from 
the  new  sea  of  fancy  and  feeling  that  flowed  through  them. 
Ere  they  ceased  their  sweet  interchange  of  tenderness^ 


46  THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAQPAT 

which  was  but  one  speech  from  one  soul,  a  glow  of  light 
ran  up  the  sky,  and  the  edge  of  a  cloud  was  fired ;  and  in 
the  blooming  of  dawn  Almeryl  hung  over  Bhanavar,  and 
his  heart  ached  to  see  the  freshness  of  her  wondrous  love- 
liness j  and  he  sang,  looking  on  her: 

The  rose  is  living  in  her  cheeks, 

The  lily  in  her  rounded  chin  ; 
She  speaks  but  when  her  whole  soul  speaks, 

And  then  the  two  flow  out  and  in, 
And  mix  their  red  and  white  to  make 
The  hue  for  which  I  'd  Paradise  forsake. 

Her  brow  from  her  black  falling  hair 

Ascends  like  morn :  her  nose  is  clear 
As  morning  hills,  and  finely  fair 

With  pearly  nostrils  curving  near 
The  red  bow  of  her  upper  lip  ; 
Her  bosom  's  the  white  wave  beneath  the  ship. 

The  fair  full  earth,  the  enraptured  skies, 

She  images  in  constant  play : 
Night  and  the  stars  are  in  her  eyes, 

But  her  sweet  face  is  beaming  day, 
A  bounteous  interblush  of  flowers  : 
A  dewy  brilliance  in  a  dale  of  bowers. 

Then  he  said,  "And  this  morning  shall  our  contract  of 
marriage  be  written  and  witnessed?  " 

She  answered,  "As  my  lord  willeth;  I  am  his." 

Said  he,  "And  it  is  thy  desire  ?  " 

She  nestled  to  him  and  dinted  his  bare  arm  with  the 
pearls  of  her  mouth  for  a  reply. 

So  that  morning  their  contract  of  marriage  was  written, 
and  witnessed  by  the  legal  number  of  witnesses  in  the 
presence  of  the  Cadi,  with  his  license  on  it  endorsed ;  and 
Bhanavar  was  the  bride  of  Almeryl,  he  her  husband. 
Never  was  youth  blessed  in  a  bride  like  that  youth! 

Now,  the  twain  lived  together  the  circle  of  a  full  year 
of  delightful  marriage,  and  love  lessened  not  in  them,  but 
was  as  the  love  of  the  first  day.  Little  cared  they,  having 
each  other,  for  the  loneliness  of  their  dwelling  in  that 
city,  where  they  knew  none  save  the  porter  Ukleet,  who 
went  about  their  commissions.  Sometimes  to  amuse  them- 
selves with  his  drolleries,  they  sent  for  him,  and  were 


THE  STORY   OP  BHANAVAB  47 

bountiful  with  him,  and  made  him  drink  with  them  on  the 
lawn  of  their  garden  leaning  to  an  inlet  of  the  sea;  and 
then  he  would  entertain  them  with  all  the  scandal  and 
gossip  of  the  city,  and  its  little  folk  and  great.  When 
he  was  outrageously  extravagant  in  these  stories  of  his, 
Bhanavar  exclaimed,  "Are  such  things,  now?  can  it  be 
true  ?  " 

And  he  nodded  in  his  conceit,  and  replied  loftily,  "  'T  is 
certain,  0  my  Prince  and  Princess!  ye  be  from  the  moun- 
tains, unused  to  the  follies  and  dissipations  of  men  where 
they  herd ;  and  ye  know  them  not,  men !  " 

The  lamps  being  lit  in  the  garden  to  the  edges  of  the 
water,  where  they  lay  one  evening,  Ukleet,  who  had  been 
in  his  briskest  mood,  became  grave,  and  put  his  forefinger 
to  the  side  of  his  nose,  and  began,  "  Hear  ye  aught  of  the 
great  tidings  ?  Wullahy !  no  other  than  the  departure  of 
the  wife  of  Boolp,  the  broker,  into  darkness.  'T  is  of 
Boolp  ye  hire  this  house,  and  had  ye  a  hundred  houses  in 
this  city  ye  might  have  had  them  from  Boolp  the  broker, 
he  that 's  rich;  and  glory  to  them  whom  Allah  prospereth, 
say  I !  And  I  mention  this  matter,  for  't  is  certain  now 
Boolp  will  take  another  wife  to  him  to  comfort  him,  for 
there  be  two  things  beloved  of  Boolp,  and  therein  mani- 
festeth  he  taste  and  the  discernment  of  excellence,  and 
what  is  approved;  and  of  these  two  things  let  the  love  of 
his  hoards  of  the  yellow-skinned  treasure  go  first,  and 
after  that  attachment  to  the  silver-skinned  of  creation,  the 
fair,  the  rapturous ;  even  to  them !  So  by  this  see  ye  not 
Boolp  will  yearn  in  his  soul  for  another  spouse  ?  Now, 
0  ye  well-matched  pair!  what  a  chance  were  this,  knew 
ye  but  a  damsel  of  the  mountains,  exquisite  in  symmetry, 
a  moon  to  enrapture  the  imagination  of  Boolp,  and  in  the 
nature  of  things  herit  his  possessions,  for  Boolp  is  an  old 
man,  even  very  old." 

They  laughed,  and  cried,  "We  know  not  of  such  a  dam- 
sel, and  the  broker  must  go  unmarried  for  us." 

When  next  Ukleet  sat  before  them,  Almeryl  took  occa- 
sion to  speak  of  Boolp  again,  and  said,  "This  broker,  0 
Ukleet,  is  he  also  a  lender  of  money?" 

Ukleet  replied,  "  0  my  Prince,  he  is  or  he  is  not :  't  is 
of  the  maybes.  I  wot  truly  Boolp  is  one  that  baiteth  the 
hook  of  an  emergency.  -' 


48          THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

The  brows  of  the  Prince  were  downcast,  and  he  said  no 
more;  but  on  the  following  morning  he  left  Bhanavar  early 
under  a  pretext,  and  sallied  forth  from  the  house  of  their 
abode  alone. 

Since  their  union  in  that  city  they  had  not  been  once 
apart,  and  Bhanavar  grieved  and  thought,  "Waneth  his 
love  for  me  ? "  and  she  called  her  women  to  her,  and 
dressed  in  this  dress  and  that  dress,  and  was  satisfied  with 
none.  The  dews  of  the  bath  stood  cold  upon  her,  and  she 
trembled,  and  fled  from  mirror  to  mirror,  and  in  each  she 
was  the  same  surpassing  vision  of  loveliness.  Then  her 
women  held  a  glass  to  her,  and  she  examined  herself 
closely,  if  there  might  be  a  fleck  upon  her  anywhere,  and 
all  was  as  the  snow  of  the  mountains  on  her  round  limbs 
sloping  in  the  curves  of  harmony,  and  the  faint  rose  of  the 
dawn  on  slants  of  snow  was  their  hue.  Twining  her  fin- 
gers and  sighing,  she  thought,  "  It  is  not  that !  he  cannot 
but  think  me  beautiful."  She  smiled  a  melancholy  smile 
at  her  image  in  the  glass,  exclaiming,  "What  availeth  it, 
thy  beauty?  for  he  is  away  and  looketh  not  on  thee,  thou 
vain  thing !  And  what  of  thy  loveliness  if  the  light  illu- 
mine it  not,  for  he  is  the  light  to  thee,  and  it  is  darkness 
when  he  's  away." 

Suddenly  she  thought,  "What's  that  which  needeth  to 
light  it  no  other  light  ?  I  had  well-nigh  forgotten  it  in 
my  bliss,  the  Jewel ! "  Then  she  went  to  a  case  of  ebony- 
wood,  where  she  kept  the  Jewel,  and  drew  it  forth,  and 
shone  in  the  beam  of  a  pleasant  imagination,  thinking, 
"  'T  will  surprise  him  ! "  And  she  robed  herself  in  a  robe 
of  saffron,  and  set  lesser  gems  of  the  diamond  and  the 
emerald  in  the  braid  of  her  hair,  and  knotted  the  Serpent 
Jewel  firmly  in  a  band  of  gold-threaded  tissue,  and  had  it 
woven  in  her  hair  among  the  braids.  In  this  array  she 
awaited  his  coming,  and  pleased  her  mind  with  picturing 
his  astonishment  and  the  joy  that  would  be  his.  Mute 
were  the  women  who  waited  on  her,  for  in  their  lives  they 
had  seen  no  such  sight  as  Bhanavar  beneath  the  beams  of 
the  Jewel,  and  the  whole  chamber  was  aglow  with  her. 

Now,  in  her  anxiety  she  sent  them  one  and  one  re- 
peatedly to  look  forth  at  the  window  for  the  coming  of 
the  Prince.  So,  when  he  came  not  she  Tent  herself  to 


THE  STORY   OF  BHANAVAR  49 

look  forth,  and  stretched  her  white  neck  beyond  the  case- 
ment. While  her  head  was  exposed,  she  heard  a  cry  of 
some  one  from  the  house  in  the  street  opposite,  and  Bhana- 
var  beheld  in  the  house  of  the  broker  an  old  wrinkled  fel- 
low that  gesticulated  to  her  in  a  frenzy.  She  snatched 
her  veil  down  and  drew  in  her  head  in  anger  at  him,  call- 
ing to  her  maids,  "  What  is  yonder  hideous  old  dotard?  " 

And  they  answered,  laughing,  "'Tis  indeed  Boolp  the 
broker,  0  fair  mistress  and  mighty !  " 

To  divert  herself  she  made  them  tell  her  of  Boolp,  and 
they  told  her  a  thousand  anecdotes  of  the  broker,  and 
verses  of  him,  and  the  constancy  of  his  amorous  condition, 
and  his  greediness.  And  Bhanavar  was  beguiled  of  her 
impatience  till  it  was  evening,  and  the  Prince  returned  to 
her.  So  they  embraced,  and  she  greeted  him  as  usual, 
waiting  what  he  would  say,  searching  his  countenance  for 
a  token  of  wonderment ;  but  the  youth  knew  not  that  aught 
was  added  to  her  beauty,  for  he  looked  nowhere  save  in 
her  eyes.  Bhanavar  was  nigh  weeping  with  vexation,  and 
pushed  him  from  her,  and  chid  him  with  lack  of  love  and 
weariness  of  her;  and  the  eye  of  the  Prince  rose  to  her 
brow  to  read  it,  and  he  saw  the  Jewel.  Almeryl  clapped 
his  hands,  crying,  "  Wondrous  !  And  this  thy  surprise  for 
me,  my  fond  one  ?  beloved  of  mine  !  "  Then  he  gazed  on 
her  a  space,  and  said,  "  Knowest  thou,  thou  art  terrible  in 
thy  beauty,  Bhanavar,  and  hast  the  face  of  lightning  under 
that  Jewel  of  the  Serpent  ?  " 

She  kissed  him,  whispering,  "Not  lightning  to  thee ! 
Yet  lovest  thou  Bhanavar  ?  " 

He  replied,  "Surely  so;  and  all  save  Bhanavar  in  this 
world  is  the  darkness  of  oblivion  to  me." 

When  it  was  the  next  morning,  Almeryl  rose  to  go  forth 
again.  Ere  he  had  passed  the  curtain  of  the  chamber, 
Bhanavar  caught  him  by  the  arm,  and  she  was  trembling 
violently.  Her  visage  was  a  wild  inquiry :  "  Thou  goest  ? 
—  and  again?  There  is  something  hidden  from  me!  " 

Almeryl  took  her  to  his  heart,  and  caressed  her  with 
fond  flatteries,  saying,  "Ask  but  what  is  beating  under 
these  two  pomegranates,  and  thou  learnest  all  of  me." 

But  she  stamped  her  foot,  crying,  "Nol  nol  I  will  hear 
it  1  There 's  a  mystery." 


50  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

So  he  said,  "Well,  then,  it  is  this  only,  small  matter 
enough.  I  have  a  business  with  the  captain  of  the  vessel 
that  brought  us  hither,  and  I  must  see  him  ere  he  setteth 
sail;  no  other  than  that,  thou  jealous,  watchful  star! 
Pierce  me  with  thine  eyes;  it  is  no  other  than  that." 

She  levelled  her  lids  at  him  till  her  lustrous  black  eye- 
lashes were  as  arrows,  and  mimicked  him  softly,  "No 
other  than  that  ?  " 

And  he  replied,  "Even  so." 

Then  she  clung  to  him  like  a  hungry  creature,  repeat- 
Ing,  "Even  so,"  and  let  him  go.  Alone,  she  summoned  a 
slave,  a  black,  and  bade  him  fetch  to  her  without  delay 
Ukleet  the  porter;  and  the  porter  was  presently  ushered 
in  to  her,  protesting  service  and  devotion.  So  she  ques- 
tioned him  of  Almeryl,  and  the  Prince's  business  abroad, 
what  he  knew  of  it.  Ukleet  commenced  reciting  verses 
on  the  ills  of  jealousy,  but  Bhanavar  checked  him  with  an 
eye  that  Ukleet  had  seen  never  before  in  woman  or  in  man, 
and  he  gaped  at  her  helplessly,  as  one  that  has  swallowed 
a  bone.  She  laughed,  crying,  "Learn,  O  thou  fellow,  to 
answer  my  like  by  the  letter." 

Now,  what  she  heard  from  Ukleet  when  he  had  recov- 
ered his  wits,  was  that  the  Prince  had  a  business  with 
none  save  the  lenders  of  money.  So  she  spake  to  Ukleet 
in  a  kindly  tone,  "Thou  art  mine,  to  serve  me?" 

He  was  as  one  fascinated,  and  delivered  himself,  "Yea, 
0  my  mistress !  with  tongue-service,  toe-service,  back-ser- 
vice, brain-service,  whatso  pleaseth  thy  sweet  presence." 

Said  she,  "Hie  over  to  the  broker  opposite,  and  bring 
him  hither  to  me." 

Ukleet  departed,  saying,  "To  hear  is  to  obey." 

She  sat  gazing  on  the  Jewel  and  its  counterchanging 
splendours  in  her  hand,  and  the  thought  of  Almeryl  and 
his  necessity  was  her  only  thought.  Not  ten  minutes  of 
the  hour  had  passed  before  the  women  waiting  on  her  an. 
nounced  Ukleet  and  the  broker  Boolp.  Bhanavar  gave 
little  heed  to  the  old  fellow's  grimace,  and  the  compli- 
ments he  addressed  her,  but  handed  him  the  Jewel  and 
desired  his  valuation  of  its  worth.  The  face  of  Boolp  was 
a  keen  edge  when  he  regarded  Bhanavar,  but  the  sight  of 
the  Jewel  sharpened  it  tenfold,  and  he  tossed  his  arms, 
exclaiming,  "A  iewel*  thisl" 


THE  STORY   OP  BHANAVAB  51 

So  Bhanavar  cried  to  him,  "  Fix  a  price  for  it,  0  thof 
broker!" 

And  Boolp,  the  old  iniser,  debated,  and  began  prating, 
"0  lady!  the  soul  of  thy  slave  is  abashed  by  a  double 
beam,  this  the  jewel  of  jewels,  thou  truly  of  thy  sex;  and 
saving  thee  there  's  no  jewel  of  worth  like  this  one,  and 
together  ye  be  —  wullahy  !  never  felt  I  aught  like  this 
since  my  espousal  of  Soolka  that 's  gone,  and  't  was  noth- 
ing like  it  then !  Now,  0  my  Princess,  confess  it  freely 
—  this  is  but  a  pretext,  this  valuation  of  the  Jewel,  and 
Ukleet  our  go-between;  and  leave  the  rewarding  of  him  to 
me.  Wullahy  !  I  can  be  generous,  and  my  days  of  favour 
with  fair  ladies  be  not  yet  over.  Blessed  be  Allah  for  this 
day  !  And  thinkest  thou  those  eyes  fell  on  me  with  dis- 
criminating observation  ere  my  sense  of  perception  was 
struck  by  thee  ?  Not  so,  for  I  had  noted  thee,  0  moon  of 
hearts,  from  my  window  yonder." 

In  this  fashion  Boolp  the  broker  went  on  prating,  and 
bowing,  and  screwing  the  corners  of  his  little  acid  eyes  to 
wink  the  wink  of  common  accord  between  himself  and 
Bhanavar.  Meantime  she  had  spoken  aside  to  one  of  her 
women,  and  a  second  black  slave  entered  the  chamber, 
bearing  in  his  hand  a  twisted  scourge,  and  that  slave  laid 
it  on  the  back  of  Boolp  the  broker,  and  by  this  means  he 
was  brought  quickly  to  the  valuation  of  the  Jewel.  Then 
he  named  a  sum  that  was  a  great  sum,  but  not  the  value  of 
the  Jewel  to  the  fiftieth  part,  nay,  nor  the  five-hundredth 
part,  of  its  value ;  and  Ukleet  remonstrated  with  him,  but 
he  was  resolute,  saying,  "Even  that  sum  leaves  me  a 
beggar." 

So  Bhanavar  said,  "My  desire  is  for  immediate  payment 
of  the  money,  and  the  Jewel  is  thine  for  that  sum." 

Now,  the  broker  went  to  fetch  the  money,  and  returned 
with  it  in  bags  of  gold  one-half  the  amount,  and  bags  of 
silver  one-third,  and  the  remainder  in  writing  made  due 
at  a  certain  period  for  payment.  And  he  groaned  and 
handed  her  the  money,  and  took  the  Jewel  in  his  hands, 
ejaculating,  "In  the  name  of  Allah!  " 

That  evening,  when  it  was  dark  and  the  lamps  lit  in  the 
chamber,  and  the  wine  set  and  the  nosegay,  Almeryl  asked 
of  Bhanavar  to  see  her  under  the  light  of  the  Jewel.  She 


52  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

warded  him  with  an  excuse,  but  he  was  earnest  with  her 
So  she  feigned  that  he  teased  her,  saying,  "  'T  is  that  thou 
art  no  longer  content  with  me  as  I  am,  O  my  husband !  " 
Then  she  said,  "  Wert  thou  successful  in  thy  dealings  this 
day  ?  " 

His  arm  slackened  round  her,  and  he  answered  nothing. 
So  she  cried,  "  Fie  on  thee,  thou  foolish  one !  and  what  is 
thy  need  of  running  over  this  city  ?  Know  I  not  thy  case 
and  thine  occasion,  0  my  beloved  ?  Surely  I  am  Queen  of 
Serpents,  a  mistress  of  enchantments,  a  diviner  of  things 
hidden,  and  I  know  thee.  Here,  then,  is  what  thou  re- 
quirest,  and  conceal  not  from  me  thy  necessity  another 
time,  my  husband!" 

Upon  that  she  pointed  his  eye  to  the  money-bags  of  gold 
and  of  silver.  Almeryl  was  amazed,  and  asked  her,  "  How 
came  these  ?  for  I  was  at  the  last  extremity,  without  coin 
of  any  kind." 

She  answered,  "  How,  but  by  the  Serpents !  " 

And  he  exclaimed,  "  Would  that  I  might  work  as  that 
porter  worketh,  rather  than  this !  " 

Now,  seeing  he  bewailed  her  use  of  the  powers  of  the 
Jewel,  Bhanavar  fell  between  his  arms,  and  related  to  him 
her  discovery  of  his  condition,  and  how  she  disposed  of 
the  Jewel  to  the  broker,  and  of  the  scourging  of  Boolp; 
and  he  praised  her,  and  clave  to  her,  and  they  laughed  and 
delighted  their  souls  in  plenteousness,  and  bliss  was  their 
portion;  as  the  poet  says, 

Bliss  that  is  born  of  mutual  esteem 
And  tried  companionship,  I  truly  deem 
A  well-based  palace,  wherein  fountains  rise 
From  springs  that  have  their  sources  in  the  skies. 

So  were  they  for  awhile.  It  happened  that  one  day, 
that  was  the  last  day  of  the  year  since  her  wearing  of  the 
Jewel,  Ukleet  said  to  them,  "Be  wary!  the  Vizier  As- 
warak  hath  his  eye  on  you,  and  it  is  no  cool  one.  I  say 
nothing:  the  wise  are  discreet  in  their  tellings  of  the 
great.  'T  is  certain  the  broker  Boolp  forgetteth  not  his 
treatment  here." 

They  smiled,  turning  to  each  other,  and  said,  "  We  live 
innocently,  we  harm  no  one,  what  should  we  fear  ?  " 


THE   STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  53 

During  the  night  of  that  day  Bhanavar  awoke  and  kissed 
the  Prince ;  and  lo !  he  shuddered  in  his  sleep  as  with  the 
grave-cold.  A  second  time  she  was  awakened  on  the 
breast  of  Almeryl  by  a  dream  of  the  Serpents  of  the  Lake 
Karatis  —  the  lake  of  the  Jewel ;  and  she  stood  up,  and 
there  was  in  the  street  a  hum  of  voices,  and  she  saw  there 
before  the  house  armed  men  with  naked  steel  in  their 
hands.  Scarce  had  she  called  Almeryl  to  her,  when  the 
outer  door  of  their  house  was  forced,  and  she  shrieked  to 
him,  "'T  is  thou  they  come  for:  fly,  O  my  Prince,  my  hus- 
band !  the  way  of  the  garden  is  clear." 

But  he  said  sadly,  "  Nay,  what  am  I  ?  it  is  thou  they 
would  win  from  me.  I  '11  leave  thee  not  in  this  life." 

So  she  cried,  "  0  my  soul,  then  together  !  —  but  I  shall 
hinder  thee,  and  be  a  burden  to  thy  flight." 

And  she  called  on  the  All-powerful  for  aid,  and  ran  with 
him  into  the  garden  of  the  house,  and  lo !  by  the  water- 
side at  the  end  of  the  garden  a  boat  full  of  armed  soldiers 
with  scimitars.  So  these  fell  upon  them,  and  bound  them, 
and  haled  them  into  the  house  again,  where  was  the  dark 
Vizier  Aswarak,  and  certain  officers  of  the  night-watch 
with  a  force.  The  Vizier  cried  when  he  saw  them,  "I 
accuse  thee,  Prince  Almeryl,  of  being  here  in  the  city 
of  our  lord  the  King,  to  conspire  against  him  and  his 
authority." 

Almeryl  faced  the  Vizier  firmly,  and  replied,  "I  knew 
not  in  my  life  I  had  made  an  enemy ;  but  there  is  one  here 
who  telleth  that  of  me." 

The  Vizier  frowned,  saying,  "  Thou  deniest  this  ?  And 
thou  here,  and  thy  father  at  war  with  the  sovereignty  of 
our  lord  the  King !  " 

Almeryl  beheld  his  danger,  and  he  said,  "Is  this  so  ?" 

Then  cried  the  Vizier,  "Hear  him!  is  not  that  a  fair 
simulation  ?  "  So  he  called  to  the  guard,  "  Shackle  him !  " 
When  that  was  done,  he  ordered  the  house  to  be  sacked, 
and  the  women  and  the  slaves  he  divided  for  a  spoil,  but 
he  reserved  Bhanavar  to  himself;  and  lo  !  twice  she  burst 
away  from  them  that  held  her  to  hang  upon  the  lips  of 
Almeryl,  and  twice  was  she  torn  from  him  as  a  grape- 
bunch  is  torn  from  the  streaming  vine,  and  the  third  time 
she  swooned  and  the  anguish  of  life  left  her. 


M  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

Now,  Bhanavar  was  borne  to  the  harem  of  the  Vizier, 
and  for  days  she  suffered  no  morsel  of  food  to  enter  her 
mouth,  and  was  dying,  had  not  the  Vizier  in  the  cunning 
of  his  dissimulation  fed  her  with  distant  glimpses  of 
Almeryl,  to  show  her  he  yet  lived.  Then  she  thought, 
"  While  my  beloved  liveth,  life  is  due  to  me ; "  and  she  ate 
and  drank  and  reassumed  her  fair  fulness  and  the  queenli- 
ness  that  was  hers ;  but  the  Vizier  had  no  love  of  her,  and 
respected  her,  considering  in  his  mind,  "Time  will  ex- 
haust the  fury  of  this  tigress,  and  she  is  a  fruit  worth  the 
waiting  for.  Wullahy  !  I  shall  have  possessed  her  ere  the 
days  of  over-ripening." 

There  was  in  the  harem  of  the  Vizier  a  mountain-girl 
that  had  been  brought  there  in  her  childhood,  and  trained 
to  play  upon  the  lute  and  accompany  her  voice  with  the 
instrument.  To  this  little  damsel  Bhanavar  gave  her 
heart,  and  would  listen  all  day,  as  in  a  trance,  to  her 
luting,  till  the  desire  to  escape  from  that  bondage  and 
gather  tidings  of  Almeryl  mastered  her,  and  she  persuaded 
one  of  the  blacks  of  the  harem  with  a  bribe  to  procure 
her  an  interview  with  the  porter  Ukleet.  So  at  a  cer- 
tain hour  of  the  night  Ukleet  was  introduced  into  the 
garden  of  the  harem,  and  he  was  in  the  darkness  of  that 
garden  a  white-faced  porter  with  knees  that  knocked  the 
dread-march  together;  but  Bhanavar  strengthened  his 
soul,  and  he  said  to  her,  "  'T  was  the  doing  of  Boolp 
the  broker:  and  he  whispered  the  Vizier  of  thee  and 
thy  beauty,  0  my  mistress!  Surely  thy  punishment  and 
this  ruin  is  but  part  payment  to  Boolp  of  the  price  of 
the  Jewel,  the  great  Jewel  that 's  in  the  hands  of  the 
Vizier." 

Then  she  questioned  him:  "And  Almeryl,  the  Prince, 
my  husband,  what  of  him?" 

Ukleet  was  dumb,  and  Bhanavar  asked  to  hear  no  more. 
Surely  she  was  at  the  gates  of  pale  spirits  within  an  hour 
of  her  interview  with  Ukleet,  and  there  was  no  blessed- 
ness for  her  save  in  death,  the  stifler  of  ills,  the  drug  that 
is  infallible.  As  is  said: 

Dark  is  that  last  stage  of  sorrow 
Which  from  Death  alone  can  borrow 
Comfort :  — 


THE  STORY   OF  BHANAVAR  55 

Bhanavar  would  have  died  then,  but  in  a  certain  pause 
of  her  fever  the  Vizier  stood  by  her.  She  looked  at  him 
long  as  she  lay,  and  the  life  in  her  large  eyes  was  ebbing 
away  slowly;  but  there  seemed  presently  a  check,  as  an 
eddy  comes  in  the  stream,  and  the  light  of  intelligence 
flowed  like  a  reviving  fire  into  her  eyes,  and  her  heart 
quickened  with  desire  of  life  while  she  looked  on  the  Viz- 
ier. So  she  passed  the  pitch  of  that  fever,  and  bloomed 
anew  in  her  beauty,  and  cherished  it,  for  she  had  a 
purpose. 

Now,  there  was  rejoicing  in  the  harem  of  the  Vizier 
Aswarak  when  Bhanavar  arose  from  the  couch;  and  the 
Vizier  exulted,  thinking,  "  I  have  tamed  this  wild  beauty, 
or  she  had  reached  death  in  that  extremity."  So  he  al- 
lowed Bhanavar  greater  freedom  and  indulgences,  and 
Bhanavar  feigned  to  give  her  soul  to  the  pleasures  women 
delight  in,  and  the  Vizier  buried  her  in  gems  and  trinkets 
and  costly  raiment,  robes  of  exquisite  silks,  the  choicest 
of  Samarcand  and  China;  and  he  permitted  her  to  make 
purchases  among  certain  of  the  warehouses  of  the  city  and 
the  shops  of  the  tradesmen,  jewellers  and  others,  so  that 
she  went  about  as  she  would,  but  for  the  slaves  that  at- 
tended her  and  the  overseer  of  the  harem.  This  continued, 
and  Aswarak  became  urgent  with  her,  and  to  remove  sus- 
picion from  him  she  named  a  day  from  that  period  when 
she  would  be  his.  Meantime  she  contrived  to  see  Ukleet 
the  porter  frequently,  and  within  a  week  of  her  engage- 
ment with  the  Vizier  she  gazed  from  a  lattice-window  of 
the  harem,  and  beheld  in  the  garden,  by  the  beams  of  the 
moon,  Ukleet,  and  he  was  looking  as  on  the  watch  for  her. 
So  she  sent  to  him  the  little  mountain-girl  she  loved,  but 
Ukleet  would  tell  her  nothing;  then  went  she  herself, 
greeting  him  graciously,  for  his  service  was  other  than 
that  of  self-seeking. 

Ukleet  said,  "  O  Lady,  mistress  of  hearts,  moon  of  the 
tides  of  will !  't  is  certain  I  was  thy  slave  from  the  hour  I 
beheld  thee  first,  and  of  the  Prince,  thy  husband;  Allah 
rest  his  soul !  Now  these  be  my  tidings.  Wullahy !  the 
King  is  one  maddened  with  the  reports  I  've  spread  about 
of  thy  beauty,  yea !  raging.  And  I  have  a  friend  in  his 
palace,  even  an  under-cook,  acute  in  the  interpreting  of 


56  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

wishes.  There  was  he  always  gabbling  of  thy  case,  0 
my  Princess,  till  the  head-cook  seized  hold  on  it,  and  so 
it  went  to  the  chamberlain,  thence  to  the  chief  of  the 
eunuchs,  and  from  him  in  a  natural  course,  to  the  King. 
Now  from  the  King  the  tracking  of  this  tale  went  to  the 
tinder-cook  down  again,  and  from  him  to  me.  So  was  I 
summoned  to  the  King,  and  the  King  discoursed  with  me 
—  I  with  him,  in  fair  fluency;  he  in  ejaculations  of  desire 
to  have  sight  of  thee,  I  in  expatiation  on  that  he  would 
see  when  he  had  his  desire.  Now  in  this  have  I  not  done 
thee  a  service,  0  sovereign  of  fancies  ?  " 

Bhanavar  mused  and  said,  "  On  the  after-morrow  I  pass 
through  the  city  to  make  a  selection  of  goods,  and  I  shall 
pass  at  noon  by  the  great  mosque,  on  my  way  to  the  shop 
of  Ebn  Roulchook,  the  King's  jeweller,  beyond  the  meat- 
market.  Of  a  surety,  I  know  not  how  my  lord  the  King 
may  see  me." 

Said  the  porter,  "  'T  is  enough!  on  my  head  be  it."  And 
he  went  from  her,  singing  the  song : 

How  little  a  thing  serves  Fortune's  turn 

When  she 's  intent  on  doing ! 
How  easily  the  world  may  burn 

When  kings  come  out  a-wooing ! 

Now,  ere  she  set  forth  on  the  after-morrow  to  make  her 
purchases,  Bhanavar  sent  word  to  the  Vizier  Aswarak  that 
she  would  see  him,  and  he  came  to  her  drunken  with  alac- 
rity, for  he  augured  favourably  that  her  reluctance  was 
melting  toward  him :  so  she  said,  "  0  my  master,  my  time 
of  mourning  is  at  an  end,  and  I  would  look  well  before 
thee,  even  as  one  worthy  of  being  thy  bride ;  so  bestow  on 
me,  I  pray  thee,  for  my  wearing  that  day,  the  jewels  that 
be  in  thy  treasury,  the  brightest  and  clearest  of  them,  and 
the  largest." 

The  Vizier  Aswarak  replied,  and  he  was  one  in  great 
satisfaction  of  soul,  "All  that  I  have  are  thine.  Wullahy! 
and  one,  a  marvel,  that  I  bought  of  Boolp  the  broker,  that 
had  it  from  an  African  merchant."  So  he  commanded  the 
box  wherein  he  had  deposited  the  Jewel  to  be  brought 
to  him  there  in  the  chamber  of  Bhanavar,  and  took  forth 
the  Serpent  Jewel  between  his  forefinger  and  thumb,  and 


THE  STORY  OP  BHANAVAB  57 

Jaughed  at  the  eager  eyes  of  Bhanavar  when  she  beheld  it, 
saying,  "'Tis  thine!  thy  bridal  gift  the  day  I  possess 
thee." 

Bhanavar  trembled  at  the  sight  of  the  Jewel,  and  its 
redness  was  to  her  as  the  blood  of  Zurvan  and  Almeryl. 
She  stretched  her  hand  out  for  it,  and  cried,  "This  day, 
0  iny  lord,  make  it  mine." 

So  the  Vizier  said,  "Nay,  what  I  have  spoken  will  I 
keep  to;  it  has  cost  me  much." 

Bhanavar  looked  at  him,  and  uttered  in  a  soft  tone, 
"Truly  it  has  cost  thee  much." 

Then  she  exclaimed,  as  in  play,  "  See  me,  how  I  look  by 
its  beam."  And  in  her  guile  she  snatched  the  Jewel  from 
him,  and  held  it  to  her  brow.  Then  Aswarak  started  from 
her  and  feared  her,  for  the  red  light  of  the  Jewel  glowed, 
and  darkened  the  chamber  with  its  beam,  darkening  all 
save  the  lustre  that  was  on  the  visage  of  Bhanavar.  He 
shouted,  "  What  *s  this !  Art  thou  a  sorceress?  " 

She  removed  the  Jewel,  and  ceased  glaring  on  him,  and 
said,  "Nothing  but  thy  poor  slave!  " 

Then  he  coaxed  her  to  give  him  the  Jewel,  and  she 
would  not;  he  commanded  her  peremptorily,  and  she  hesi- 
tated; so  he  grasped  her  tightened  hand,  and  his  face 
loured  with  wrath ;  yet  she  withheld  the  Jewel  from  him 
laughing;  and  he  was  stirred  to  extreme  wrath,  and  drew 
from  his  girdle  the  naked  scimitar,  and  menaced  her  with 
it.  And  he  looked  mighty;  but  she  dreaded  him  little, 
and  stood  her  full  height  before  him,  daring  him,  and  she 
was  as  the  tigress  defending  a  cub  from  a  wilder  beast. 
Now,  when  he  was  about  to  call  in  the  armed  slaves  of  the 
palace,  she  said ,  "  I  warn  thee,  Vizier  Aswarak !  tempt  me 
not  to  match  them  that  serve  me  with  them  that  serve 
thee." 

He  ground  his  teeth  in  fury,  crying,  "A conspiracy!  and 
in  the  harem !  Now,  thou  traitress !  the  logic  of  the  lash 
shall  be  tried  upon  thee."  And  he  roared,  "Ho !  ye  with- 
out there !  —  ho !  " 

But  ere  the  slaves  had  entered  Bhanavar  rubbed  the 
Jewel  on  her  bosom,  muttering,  "I  have  forborne  till  now! 
Now  will  I  have  a  sacrifice,  though  I  be  it."  And  rubbing 
the  Jewel,  she  sang, 


68  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

Hither !  hither ! 

Come  to  your  Qneen  ; 
Come  through  the  grey  wafl, 

Come  through  the  green ! 

There  was  heard  a  noise  like  the  noise  of  a  wind  coming 
down  a  narrow  gorge  above  falling  waters,  a  hissing  and  a 
rushing  of  wings,  and  behold!  Bhanavar  was  circled  by 
rings  and  rings  of  serpent-folds  that  glowed  round  her, 
twisted  each  in  each,  with  the  fierceness  of  fire,  she  like  a 
flame  rising  up  white  in  the  midst  of  them.  The  black 
slaves,  when  they  had  lifted  the  curtain  of  the  harem- 
chamber,  shrieked  to  see  her,  and  Aswarak  crouched  at 
her  feet  with  the  aspect  of  an  angry  beast  carved  in 
stone.  Then  Bhanavar  loosed  on  either  of  the  slaves 
a  serpent,  saying,  "  What  these  have  seen  they  shall  not 
say."  And  while  the  sweat  dropped  heavily  from  the 
forehead  of  Aswarak,  she  stepped  out  of  the  circle  of 
serpents,  singing, 

Over !  over ! 

Hie  to  the  lake ! 
Sleep  with  the  left  eye, 

Keep  the  right  awake. 

Then  the  serpents  spread  with  a  great  whirr,  and  flew 
through  the  high  window  and  the  walls  as  they  had  come, 
and  she  said  to  the  Vizier,  "  What  now  ?  Fearest  thou  ? 
I  have  spared  thee,thou  that  madest  me  desolate!  and  thy 
slaves  are  a  sacrifice  for  thee.  Now  this  I  ask:  Where 
lies  my  beloved,  the  Prince  my  husband  ?  Speak  nothing 
of  him,  save  the  place  of  his  burial! " 

So  he  told  her,  "In  the  burial-ground  of  the  great 
prison." 

She  rolled  her  eyes  on  the  Vizier  darkly,  exclaiming, 
"  Even  where  the  felons  lie  entombed,  he  lieth ! "  And 
she  began  to  pant,  pale  with  what  she  had  done,  and 
leaned  to  the  floor,  and  called, 

Yellow  stripe,  with  freckle  red, 
Coil  and  curl,  and  watch  by  my  head. 

And  a  serpent  with  yellow  stripes  and  red  freckles  came 
like  a  javelin  down  to  her,  and  coiled  and  curled  round 


THE   STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  59 

her  head,  and  she  slept  an  hour.  When  she  arose  the 
Vizier  was  yet  there,  sitting  with  folded  knees.  So  she 
sped  the  serpent  to  the  Lake  Karatis,  and  called  her 
women  to  her,  and  went  to  an  inner  room,  and  drew  an 
outer  robe  and  a  vest  over  that  she  had  on,  and  passed  the 
Vizier,  and  said,  "Art  thou  not  rejoiced  in  thy  bride,  O 
Aswarak?  'T  was  a  wondrous  clemency,  hers!  Now  but 
four  more  days  and  thou  claimest  her.  Say  nothing  of 
what  thou  hast  seen,  or  thou  wilt  shortly  see  nothing  fur- 
ther to  say,  my  master." 

So  she  left  the  Vizier  sitting  still  in  that  chamber,  and 
mounted  a  mule,  attended  by  slaves  on  foot  before  and 
behind  her,  and  passed  through  the  streets  till  she  came  to 
the  shop  of  Ebn  Eoulchook.  The  King  was  in  disguise  at 
the  extremity  of  the  shop,  and  while  she  examined  this 
and  that  of  the  precious  stones,  Bhanavar  for  a  moment 
made  bare  the  beauty  of  her  face,  and  love's  fires  took  fast 
hold  of  the  King,  and  he  cried,  "  I  marvel  not  at  the  elo- 
quence of  the  porter." 

Now,  she  made  Ebn  Eoulchook  bring  to  her  a  circlet  of 
gold,  with  a  hollow  in  the  frontal  centre,  and  fit  into  that 
hollow  the  Serpent  Jewel.  So,  while  she  laughed  and 
chatted  with  her  women,  Bhanavar  lifted  the  circlet,  and 
made  her  countenance  wholly  bare  even  to  the  neck  and  the 
beginning  slope  of  the  bosom,  and  fixed  the  circlet  to  her 
head  with  the  Jewel  burning  on  her  brow.  Then  when  he 
beheld  the  glory  of  excelling  loveliness  that  she  was,  and 
the  splendour  in  her  eyes  under  the  Jewel,  the  King 
shouted  and  parted  with  his  disguise,  and  Ebn  Roulchook 
and  the  women  and  slaves  with  Bhanavar  fled  to  the  court- 
yard that  was  behind  the  shop,  leaving  Bhanavar  alone 
with  the  King.  Surely  Bhanavar  returned  not  to  the 
dwelling  of  the  Vizier. 

Now,  the  King  Mashalleed  espoused  Bhanavar,  and  she 
became  his  queen  and  ruled  him,  and  her  word  was  the 
dictate  of  the  land.  Then  caused  she  the  body  of  Almeryl, 
with  the  severed  head  of  the  Prince,  to  be  disinterred,  and 
entombed  secretly  in  the  palace;  and  she  had  lamps  lit  in 
the  vault,  and  the  pall  spread,  and  the  readers  of  the 
Koran  to  read  by  the  tomb;  and  then  she  stole  to  the  tomb 
hourly,  in  the  day  and  in  the  night,  wailing  of  him  and 


60          THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

her  utter  misery,  repeating  verses  at  the  side  of  the  tomb, 
and  they  were, 

Take  me  to  thee ! 
Like  the  deep-rooted  tree, 
My  life  is  half  in  earth,  and  draws 
Thence  all  sweetness ;  oh  may  my  being  pause 
Soon  beside  thee  ! 

Welcome  me  soon ! 
As  to  the  queenly  moon, 
Man's  homage  to  my  beauty  sets ; 
Yet  am  I  a  rose-shrub  budding  regrets-. 
Welcome  me  soon. 

Soul  of  my  soul ! 
Have  me  not  half,  but  whole. 
Dear  dust,  thou  art  my  eyes,  my  breath! 
Draw  me  to  thee  down  the  dark  sea  of  death* 
Soul  of  my  soul  1 

A.nd  she  sang : 

Sad  are  they  who  drink  life's  cup 

Till  they  have  come  to  the  bitter-sweet : 
Better  at  once  to  toss  it  up, 

And  trample  it  beneath  the  feet ; 
For  venom-charged  as  serpents'  eggs 

'T  is  then,  and  knows  not  other  change. 
Early,  early,  early,  have  I  reached  the  dregs 
Of  life,  and  loathe  and  love  the  bitter-sweet,  revenge! 

Then  turned  she  aside,  and  sang  musingly : 

• 

I  came  to  his  arms  like  the  flower  of  the  spring 
And  he  was  my  bird  of  the  radiant  wing : 
He  flntter'd  above  me  a  moment,  and  won 
The  bliss  of  my  breast  as  a  beam  of  the  sun, 
Untouch'd  and  untasted  till  then  — 

The  voice  in  her  throat  was  like  a  drowning  creature,  ana 
she  rose  up,  and  chanted  wildly : 

I  weep  again  ? 
What  play  is  this  ?  for  the  thing  is  dead  in  me  long  since: 

Will  all  the  reviving  rain 
Of  heaven  bring  me  back  my  Prince  ? 
But  I,  when  I  weep,  when  I  weep, 
Blood  will  I  weep  ! 
And  when  I  weep, 
3ons  for  fathers  shall  weep ; 


THE  STOKY  OF  BHANAVAR  61 

Mothers  for  sons  shall  wsep ; 
Wives  for  husbands  shall  weep ! 
Earth  shall  complain  of  floods  red  and  deep, 
When  I  weep  ! 

Upon  that  she  ran  up  a  secret  passage  to  her  chamber  and 
rubbed  the  Jewel,  and  called  the  serpents,  to  delight  her 
soul  with  the  sight  of  her  power,  and  rolled  and  sported 
madly  among  them,  clutching  them  by  the  necks  till  their 
thin  little  red  tongues  hung  out,  and  their  eyes  were  as 
discoloured  blisters  of  venom.  Then  she  arose,  and  her 
arms  and  neck  and  lips  were  glazed  with  the  slime  of  the 
serpents,  and  she  flung  off  her  robes  to  the  close-fitting 
silken  inner  vest  looped  across  her  bosom  with  pearls,  and 
whirled  in  a  mazy  dance-measure  among  them,  and  sang 
melancholy  melodies,  making  them  delirious,  fascinating 
them;  and  they  followed  her  round  and  round,  ID  twines 
and  twists  and  curves,  with  arched  heads  and  stiffened 
tails;  and  the  chamber  swam  like  an  undulating  sea  of 
shifting  sapphire  lit  by  the  moon  of  midnight.  Not  before 
the  moon  of  midnight  was  in  the  sky  ceased  Bhanavar 
sporting  with  the  serpents,  and  she  sank  to  sleep  exhausted 
in  their  midst. 

Such  was  the  occupation  of  the  Queen  of  Mashalleed 
when  he  came  not  to  her.  The  women  and  slaves  of  the 
palace  dreaded  her,  and  the  King  himself  was  her  very 
slave. 

Meanwhile  the  plot  of  her  unforgivingness  against  As- 
warak  ripened:  and  the  Vizier  beholding  the  bride  he  had 
fost  Queen  of  Mashalleed  his  master,  it  was  as  she  con- 
ceived, that  his  heart  was  eaten  with  jealousy  and  fierce 
rage.  Bhanavar  as  she  came  across  him  spake  mildly,  and 
gave  him  gentle  looks,  sad  glances,  suffering  not  his  fires 
to  abate,  the  torment  of  his  love  to  cool.  Each  night  he 
awoke  with  a  serpent  in  his  bed;  the  beam  of  her  beauty 
was  as  the  constant  bite  of  a  serpent,  poisoning  his  blood, 
and  he  deluded  his  soul  with  the  belief  that  Bhanavar  loved 
him  notwithstanding,  and  that  she  was  seized  forcibly 
from  him  by  the  King.  "Otherwise,"  thought  he,  "why 
loosed  she  not  a  serpent  from  the  host  to  strangle  me  even 
as  yonder  black  slaves?"  Bhanavar  knew  the  mind  of 
Aswarak,  and  considered,  "The  King  is  cunning  and  weak, 


62  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

a  slave  to  his  desires,  and  in  the  bondage  of  the  Jewel,  my 
beauty.  The  Vizier  is  unscrupulous,  a  hatcher  of  in- 
trigues ;  but  that  he  dreads  me  and  hopes  a  favour  of  me, 
he  would  have  wrought  against  me  ere  now.  'T  is  then  a 
combat  'twixt  him  and  me.  O  my  soul,  art  thou  dreaming 
of  a  fair  youth  that  was  the  bliss  of  thy  bosom  night  and 
day,  night  and  day?  The  Vizier  shall  die!  " 

One  morning,  and  it  was  a  year  from  the  day  she  had 
become  Queen  of  Mashalleed,  Bhanavar  sprang  up  quickly 
from  the  side  of  the  King;  and  he  was  gazing  on  her  in 
amazement  and  loathing.  She  flew  to  her  chamber,  chas- 
ing forth  her  women,  and  ran  to  a  mirror.  Therein  she 
saw  three  lines  that  were  on  her  brow,  lines  of  age,  and  at 
the  corners  of  her  mouth  and  about  her  throat  a  slackness 
of  skin,  the  skin  no  longer  its  soft  rosy  white,  but  with- 
ered brown  as  leaves  of  the  forest.  She  shrieked,  and  fell 
back  in  a  swoon  of  horror.  When  she  recovered,  she  ran 
to  the  mirror  again,  and  it  was  the  same  sight.  And  she 
rose  from  swooning  a  third  time,  and  still  she  beheld  the 
visage  of  a  hag;  nothing  of  beauty  there  save  the  hair  and 
the  brilliant  eyes.  Then  summoned  she  the  serpents  in  a 
«ircle,  and  the  number  of  them  was  that  of  the  days  in  the 
year :  and  she  bared  her  wrist  and  seized  one,  a  grey-silver 
with  sapphire  spots,  and  hissed  at  him  till  he  hissed,  and 
foam  whitened  the  lips  of  each.  Thereupon  she  cried : 

Treble-tongue  and  throat  of  hell, 
What  is  come  upon  me,  tell  1 

And  the  Serpent  replied, 

Jewel  Queen !  beauty's  price ! 
'T  is  the  time  for  sacrifice ! 

She  grasped  another,  one  of  leaden  colour,  with  yellow* 
bars  and  silver  crescents,  and  cried : 

Treble-tongue  and  throat  of  fire, 
Name  the  creature  ye  require.' 

And  the  Serpent  replied : 

Bnby  lip  !  poison  tooth ! 
We  are  hungry  for  a  youth. 


THE   STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  63 

She  grasped  another  that  writhed  in  her  fingers  like 
liquid  emerald,  and  cried: 

Treble-tongue  and  throat  of  glue ! 
How  to  know  the  one  that  'a  due  ? 

And  the  Serpent  replied : 

Breast  of  snow !  baleful  bliss ! 
He  that  wooing  wins  a  kiss. 

She  clutched  one  at  her  elbow,  a  hairy  serpent  with  yel- 
low languid  eyes  in  flame-sockets  and  livid-lustrous  length 
—  a  disease  to  look  on,  and  cried : 

Treble-tongue  and  throat  of  gall ! 
There 's  a  youth  beneath  the  palL 

And  the  Serpent  replied : 

Brilliant  eye!  bloody  tear! 
He  has  fed  us  for  a  year. 

She  squeezed  that  hairy  serpent  till  her  finger-points 
whitened  in  his  neck,  and  he  dropped  lifelessly ,  crying  ? 

Treble-tongues  and  things  of  mud  ! 
Sprang  my  beauty  from  his  blood  ? 

And  the  Serpents  rose  erect,  replying : 

Yearly  one  of  us  must  die  ; 

Yearly  for  us  dieth  one  ; 
Else  the  Qneen  an  ugly  lie 

Lives  till  all  our  lives  be  done ! 

Bhanavar  stood  up,  and  hurried  them  to  Karatis.  When 
she  was  alone  she  fell  towards  the  floor,  repeating,  '"T  is 
the  Curse !  "  Suddenly  she  thought,  "  Yet  another  year 
my  beauty  shall  be  nourished  by  my  vengeance,  yet  an- 
other I  And,  0  Vizier,  the  kiss  shall  be  thine,  the  kiss  of 
doom;  for  I  have  doomed  thee  ere  now.  Thou,  thou  shalt 
restore  me  to  my  beauty :  that  only  love  I  now  my  Prince 
is  lost." 

So  she  veiled  her  face  in  the  close  veil  of  the  virtuous, 
and  despatched  Ukleet,  whom  she  exalted  in  the  palace  of 
the  King,  to  the  Vizier;  and  Ukleet  stood  before  Aswarak, 


64  THE  SHAVING  OF  8HAGPAT 

and  said,  "0  Vizier,  my  mistress  truly  is  longing  for  you 
with  excessive  longing,  and  in  what  she  now  undergoeth 
is  forgotten  an  evil  done  by  you  to  her ;  and  she  bids  you 
come  and  concert  with  her  a  scheme  deliberately  as  to  the 
getting  rid  of  this  tyrant  who  is  an  affliction  to  her,  and 
her  life  is  lessened  by  him." 

The  Vizier  was  deceived  by  his  passion,  and  he  chuckled 
and  exclaimed,  "  My  very  dream !  and  to  mind  me  of  her, 
then,  she  sent  the  serpents !  Wullahy ,  in  the  matter  of 
women,  wait !  For,  as  the  poet  declareth : 

"Tifl  vanity  oar  souls  for  such  to  vex ; 
Patience  is  a  harvest  of  the  sex.' 

And  they  fret  themselves  not  overlong  for  husbands  that 
are  gone,  these  young  beauties.  I  know  them.  Tell  the 
Queen  of  Serpents  I  am  even  hers  to  the  sole  of  my  foot." 

So  it  was  understood  between  them  that  the  Vizier 
should  be  at  the  gate  of  the  garden  of  the  palace  that 
night,  disguised;  and  the  Vizier  rejoiced,  thinking,  "If 
she  have  not  the  Jewel  with  her,  it  shall  go  ill  with  me, 
and  I  foiled  this  time  !  " 

Ukleet  then  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Boolp  the  broker, 
fronting  the  gutted  ruins  where  Bhanavar  had  been  happy 
in  her  innocence  with  Almeryl,  the  mountain  prince,  her 
husband.  Boolp  was  engaged  haggling  with  a  slave-mer- 
chant the  price  of  a  fair  slave,  and  Ukleet  said  to  him, 
"  Yet  awhile  delay,  O  Boolp,  ere  you  expend  a  fraction  of 
treasure,  for  truly  a  mighty  bargain  of  jewels  is  waiting 
for  you  at  the  palace  of  my  lord  the  King.  So  come 
thither  with  all  your  money-bags  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
your  securities,  and  your  bonds  and  dues  in  writing,  for 
't  is  the  favourite  of  the  King  requireth  you  to  complete  a 
bargain  with  her,  and  the  price  of  her  jewels  is  the  price 
of  a  kingdom." 

Said  Boolp,  "Hearing  is  compliance  in  such  a  case." 

And  Ukleet  continued,  "What  a  fortune  is  yours,  O 
Boolp!  truly  the  tide  of  fortune  setteth  into  your  lap. 
Fail  not,  wullahy !  to  come  with  all  you  possess,  or  if  you 
have  not  enough  when  she  requireth  it  to  complete  the 
bargain,  my  mistress  will  break  off  with  you.  I  know  not 
if  she  intend  even  other  game  for  you,  0  lucky  one  !  " 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAB  65 

Boolp  hitched  his  girdle  and  shrugged,  saying,  "  'T  is 
she  will  fail,  I  wot,  —  she,  in  having  therewith  to  com- 
plete the  bargain  between  us.  Wa!  wa!  —  there!  I've 
done  this  before  now.  Wullahy !  if  she  have  not  enough 
of  her  rubies  and  pearls  to  outweigh  me  and  my  gold,  go 
to,  Boolp  will  school  her !  What  says  the  poet?  — 

'  Earth  and  ocean  search,  East,  West,  and  North,  to  the  South., 
None  will  match  the  bright  rubies  and  pearls  of  her  mouth/ 

*  Aha !  what?  0  Ukleet !     And  he  says : 

'  The  lorely  ones  a  bargain  made 
With  me,  and  I  renounced  my  trade, 
Half-ruined ;  "  Ah ! "  said  they,  "  return  and  win ! 
To  even  scales  ourselves  we  will  throw  in ! " ' 

How  so?     But  let  discreetness  reign  and  security  ftour 
isheth!" 

Ukleet  nodded  at  him,  and  repeated  the  distich: 

Men  of  worth  and  men  of  wits 

Shoot  with  two  arrows,  and  make  two  /rits. 

So  he  arranged  with  Boolp  the  same  appoint/uent  as  with 
the  Vizier,  and  returned  to  Queen  Bhanavar. 

Now,  in  the  dark  of  night  Aswarak  stood  within  the 
gate  of  the  palace-garden  of  Mashalleed  that  was  ajar,  and 
a  hand  from  a  veiled  figure  reached  to  him,  and  he  caught 
it,  in  the  fulness  of  his  delusion,  crying,  "Thou,  my 
Queen?"  But  the  hand  signified  silence,  and  drew  him 
past  the  tank  of  the  garden  and  through  a  court  of  the  pal- 
ace into  a  passage  lit  with  lamps,  and  on  into  a  close-cur- 
tained chamber,  and  beyond  a  heavy  curtain  into  another, 
a  circular  passage  descending  between  black  hangings,  and 
at  the  bottom  a  square  vault  draped  with  black,  and  in  it 
precious  woods  burning,  oils  in  censers,  and  the  odour  of 
ambergris  and  myrrh  and  musk  floating  in  clouds,  and  the 
sight  of  the  Vizier  was  for  a  time  obscured  by  the  thick- 
ness of  the  incenses  floating.  As  he  became  familiar  with 
the  place,  he  saw  marked  therein  a  board  spread  at  one 
end  with  viands  and  wines,  and  the  nosegay  in  a  water- 
vase,  and  cups  of  gold  and  a  service  of  gold,  —  every  prep- 
aration for  feasting  mightily.  So  the  soul  of  Aswarak 


66  T£DE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

leapt,  and  he  cried,  "Now  unveil  thyself,  O  moon  of  our 
meeting,  my  mistress !  " 

The  voice  of  Bhanavar  answered  him,  "  Not  till  we  have 
feasted  and  drunken,  and  it  seemeth  little  in  our  eyes. 
Surely  the  chamber  is  secure :  could  I  have  chosen  one  bet- 
ter for  our  meeting,  0  Aswarak?  " 

Upon  that  he  entreated  her  to  sit  with  him  to  the  feast, 
but  she  cried,  "Nay !  delay  till  the  other  is  come." 

Cried  he,  "Another?" 

But  she  exclaimed,  "Hush!"  and  saying  thus  went  for- 
ward to  the  foot  of  the  passage,  and  Boolp  was  there,  fol- 
lowing Ukleet,  both  of  them  under  a  weight  of  bags  and 
boxes.  So  she  welcomed  the  broker,  and  led  him  to  the 
feast,  he  coughing  and  wheezing  and  blinking,  unwitting 
the  vexation  of  the  Vizier,  nor  that  one  other  than  himself 
was  there.  When  Boolp  heard  the  voice  of  the  Vizier,  in 
astonishment,  addressing  him,  he  started  back  and  fell 
upon  his  bags,  and  the  task  of  coaxing  him  to  the  board 
was  as  that  of  haling  a  distempered  beast  to  the  water. 
Then  they  sat  and  feasted  together,  and  Ukleet  with  them; 
and  if  Aswarak  or  Boolp  waxed  impatient  of  each  other's 
presence,  he  whispered  to  them,  "  Only  wait !  see  what  she 
reserveth  for  you."  And  Bhanavar  mused  with  herself, 
"Truly  that  reserved  shall  be  not  long  coming !  "  So  they 
drank,  and  wine  got  the  mastery  of  Aswarak,  so  that  he 
made  no  secret  of  his  passion,  and  began  to  lean  to  her 
and  verse  extemporaneously  in  her  ear;  and  she  stinted 
not  in  her  replies,  answering  to  his  urgency  in  girlish 
guise,  sighing  behind  the  veil,  as  if  under  love's  influence. 
And  the  Vizier  pressed  close,  and  sang : 

T  is  said  that  love  brings  beauty  to  the  cheeks 
Of  them  that  love  and  meet,  but  mine  are  pale ; 

For  merciless  disdain  on  me  she  wreaks, 

And  hides  her  visage  from  my  passionate  tale : 

I  have  her  only,  only  when  she  speaks. 

Bhanavar,  unveil  1 

I  have  thee,  and  I  have  thee  not !    Like  one 

Lifted  by  spirits  to  a  shining  dale 
In  Paradise,  who  seeks  to  leap  and  run 

And  clasp  the  beauty,  but  his  foot  doth  fail, 
For  he  is  blind :  ah !  then  more  woful  none ! 
Bhanavar,  unveil  1 


THE  STORY   OF  BHANAVAR  67 

He  thrust  the  wine-cup  to  her,  and  she  lifted  it  under 
her  veil,  and  then  sang,  in  answer  to  him : 

My  beauty !  for  thy  worth 

Thank  the  Vizier ! 
He  gives  thee  second  birth : 

Thank  the  Vizier! 
His  blooming  form  without  a  fault : 

Thank  the  Vizier  1 
Is  at  thy  foot  in  this  blest  vault : 

Thank  the  Vizier ! 
He  knoweth  not  he  telleth  such  a  truth, 

Thank  the  Vizier ! 
That  them,  thro'  him,  spring'st  fresh  in  blushing  youth : 

Thank  the  Vizier ! 
He  knoweth  little  now,  but  he  shall  soon  be  wise  : 

Thank  the  Vizier ! 
This  meeting  bringeth  bloom  to  cheeks  and  lips  and  eyes  : 

Thank  the  Vizier! 
O  my  beloved  in  this  blest  vault,  if  I  love  thee  for  aye, 

Thank  the  Vizier  1 
Thine  am  I,  thine !  and  learns  his  soul  what  it  has  taught  —  to  die, 

Thank  the  Vizier ! 

Now,  Aswarak  divined  not  her  meaning,  and  was  en- 
raptured with  her,  and  cried,  "  Wullahy  !  so  and  such  thy 
love !  Thine  am  I,  thine!  And  what  a  music  is  thy  voice, 
0  my  mistress !  'T  were  a  bliss  to  Eblis  in  his  torment 
could  he  hear  it.  Life  of  my  head !  and  is  thy  beauty  in- 
creased by  me?  Nay,  thou  flatterer  !  "  Then  he  said  to 
her,  "  Away  with  these  importunate  dogs !  't  is  the  very 
hour  of  tenderness!  Wullahy!  they  offend  my  nostril, 
stung  am  I  at  the  sight  of  them." 

She  rejoined : 

O  Aswarak !  star  of  the  morn  J 
Thou  that  wakenest  my  beauty  from  night  and  scorn, 

Thy  time  is  near,  and  when  t  is  come, 
Long  will  a  jackal  howl  that  this  thy  request  had  been  dumb. 

O  Aswarak !  star  of  the  morn ! 

So  the  Vizier  imaged  in  his  mind  the  neglect  of  Mashal- 
leed  from  these  words,  and  said,  "Leave  the  King  to  my 
care,  0  Queen  of  Serpents,  and  expend  no  portion  of  thy 
power  on  him;  but  hasten  now  the  going  of  these  fellows; 
my  heart  is  straitened  by  them,  and  I,  wullahy!  would 
gladly  see  a  serpent  round  the  necks  of  either." 

She  continued: 


68  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

O  Aswarak !  star  of  the  morn ! 
Lo !  the  star  must  die  when  spleudider  light  is  born ; 

In  stronger  floods  the  beam  will  drown : 
Shrink,  thou  puny  orb,  and  dread  to  bring  me  my  crown, 

0  Aswarak !  star  of  the  morn ! 

Then  said  she,  "  Hark  awhile  at  those  two !  There  's  a 
disputation  between  them." 

So  they  hearkened,  and  Ukleet  was  pledging  Boolp,  and 
passing  the  cup  to  him;  but  a  sullenness  had  seized  the 
broker,  and  he  refused  it,  and  Ukleet  shouted,  "  Out,  boon- 
fellow!  and  what  a  company  art  thou,  that  thou  refusest 
the  pledge  of  friendliness?  Plague  on  all  sulkers!  " 

And  the  broker,  the  old  miser,  obstinate  as  are  the  half- 
fuddled,  began  to  mumble,  "I  came  not  here  to  drink,  O 
Ukleet,  but  to  make  a  bargain ;  and  my  bags  be  here,  and 
I  like  not  yonder  veil,  nor  the  presence  of  yonder  Vizier, 
nor  the  secrecy  of  this.  Now,  by  the  Prophet  and  that 
interdict  of  his,  I  '11  drink  no  further." 

And  Ukleet  said,  "  Let  her  not  mark  your  want  of  fel- 
lowship, or  't  will  go  ill  with  you.  Here  be  fine  wines, 
spirited  wines !  choice  flavours !  and  you  drink  not ! 
Where  's  the  soul  in  you,  0  Boolp,  and  where  's  the  life 
in  you,  that  you  yield  her  to  the  Vizier  utterly?  Surely 
she  waiteth  a  gallant  sign  from  you,  so  challenge  her 
cheerily." 

Quoth  Boolp,  "I  care  not.  Shall  I  leave  my  wealth 
and  all  I  possess  void  of  eyes?  and  she  so  that  I  recognize 
her  not  behind  the  veil?  " 

Ukleet  pushed  the  old  miser  jeeringly :  "  You  not  recog- 
nize her?  Oh,  Boolp,  a  pretty  dissimulation!  Pledge  her 
now  a  cup  to  the  snatching  of  the  veil,  and  bethink  you  of 
a  fitting  verse,  a  seemly  compliment,  —  something  sugary." 

Then  Boolp  smoothed  his  head,  and  was  bothered;  and 
tapped  it,  and  commenced  repeating  to  Bhanavar: 

1  saw  the  moon  behind  a  cloud, 

And  I  was  cold  as  one  that 's  in  his  shroud : 
And  I  cried,  Moon  !  — 

Ukleet  chorused  him,  "Moon !  "  and  Boolp  was  deranged 
In  what  he  had  to  say,  and  gasped : 

Moon !  I  cried,  Moon !  —  and  I  cried,  Moon ! 


THE  STOEY  OF  BHANAVAR  69 

Then  the  Vizier  and  Ukleet  laughed  till  they  fell  on 
their  backs ;  so  Bhanavar  took  up  his  verse  where  he  left 
it,  singing: 

And  to  the  cry 

Moon  did  make  fair  the  following  reply : 
'  Dotard,  be  still !  for  thy  desire 
Li  to  embrace  consuming  Sre.' 

Then  said  Boolp,  "  0  my  mistress,  the  laws  of  convivi 
ality  have  till   now  restrained  me;   but  my  coming  here 
was  on  a  business,  and  with  me  my  bags,  in  good  faith. 
So  let  us  transact  this  matter  of  the  jewels,   and  after 
that  the  song  of 

•Thonandl 
A  cap  will  try/ 

even  as  thou  wilt." 

Bhanavar  threw  aside  her  outer  robe  and  veil,  and  ap- 
peared in  a  dress  of  sumptuous  blue,  spotted  with  gold 
bees;  her  face  veiled  with  a  veil  of  gauzy  silver,  and 
she  was  as  the  moon  in  summer  heavens,  and  strode  ma- 
jestically forward,  saying,  "The  jewels?  'tis  but  one. 
Behold ! " 

The  lamps  were  extinguished,  and  in  her  hand  was  the 
glory  of  the  Serpent  Jewel,  no  other  light  save  it  in  the 
vaulted  chamber. 

So  the  old  miser  perked  his  chin  and  brows,  and  cried 
wondering,  "I  know  it,  this  Jewel,  0  my  mistress." 

She  turned  to  the  Vizier,  and  said,  lifting  the  red  gloom 
of  the  Jewel  on  him,  "And  thou?  " 

Aswarak  ate  his  under-lip. 

Then  she  cried,  "  There  's  much  ye  know  in  common,  ye 
two." 

Thereupon  Bhanavar  passed  from  the  feast  on  to  the 
centre  of  the  vault,  and  stood  before  the  tomb  of  Almeryl, 
and  drew  the  cloth  from  it;  and  they  saw  by  the  glow  of 
the  Jewel  that  it  was  a  tomb.  When  she  had  mounted 
some  steps  at  the  side  of  the  tomb,  she  beckoned  them  *o 
come,  crying,  in  a  voice  of  sobs,  "This  which  is  here,  like- 
wise ye  may  know." 

So  they  came  with  the  coldness  of  a  mystery  in  their 
blood,  and  looked  as  she  looked  intently  over_the  tomb. 


TO          THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

The  lid  was  of  glass,  and  through  the  glass  of  the  lid  the 
Jewel  flung  a  dark  rosy  ray  on  the  body  of  Almeryl  lying 
beneath  it. 

Now,  the  miser  was  perplexed  at  the  sight;  but  Aswarak 
stepped  backward  in  defiance,  bellowing,  "  "T  was  for  this 
I  was  tricked  to  come  here !  Is  't  fooling  me  a  second 
time?  By  Allah!  look  to  it;  not  a  second  time  will  As- 
warak be  fooled." 

Then  she  ran  to  him,  and  exclaimed,  "Pooled?  For 
what  cam'st  thou  to  me?" 

And  he,  foaming  and  grinding  his  breath,  ••Thou  woman 
of  wiles  !  0  thou  serpent !  but  I'll  be  gone  from  here." 

So  she  faltered  in  sweetness,  knowing  him  doomed,  and 
loving  to  dally  with  him  in  her  wickedness,  "Indeed  if 
thou  cam'st  not  for  my  kiss  —  " 

Then  said  the  Vizier,  "  Yet  a  further  guile  !  Was  't  not 
an  outrage  to  bring  me  here?  " 

She  faltered  again,  leaning  the  fair  length  of  her  limbs 
on  a  couoh,  "  'T  is  ill  that  we  are  not  alone,  else  could 
these  lips  convince  thee  well :  else  indeed !  " 

And  the  Vizier  cried,  "  Chase  then  these  intruders  from 
us,  0  thou  sorceress,  and  above  all  serpents  in  power !  for 
thou  poisonest  with  a  touch ;  and  the  eye  and  the  ear  alike 
take  in  thy  poisons  greedily.  Thou  overcomest  the  senses, 
the  reason,  the  judgement;  yea,  vindictiveness,  wrath,  sus- 
picions; leading  the  soul  captive  with  a  breath  of  thine, 
as  't  were  a  breeze  from  the  gardens  of  bliss." 

Bhanavar  changed  her  manner  a  little,  lisping,  "And 
why  that  starting  from  the  tomb  of  a  dead  harmless  youth? 
And  that  abuse  of  me?  " 

He  peered  at  her  inquiringly,  echoing  "Why?  " 

And  she  repeated,  as  a  child  might  repeat  it,  "Why 
that?  " 

Then  the  Vizier  smote  his  forehead  in  the  madness  of 
utter  perplexity,  changing  his  eye  from  Bhanavar  to  the 
tomb  of  Almeryl,  doubting  her  truth,  yet  dreading  to  dis- 
believe it.  So  she  saw  him  fast  enmeshed  in  her  subtle- 
ties, and  clapped,  her  hands,  crying,  "  Come  again  with  me 
to  the  tomb,  and  note  if  there  be  aught  I  am  to  blame  in, 
O  Aswarak,  and  plight  thyself  to  me  beside  it." 

He  did  nothing  save  to  widen  his  eye  at  her  somewhat,' 


THE   STORY  OP  BHANAVAR  71 

and  she  said,  "The  two  are  yonside  the  tomb,  and  they 
hear  us  not,  and  see  us  not  by  this  light  of  the  Jewel;  so 
come  up  to  it  boldly  with  me ;  free  thy  mind  of  its  doubt, 
and  for  a  reconcilement  kiss  me  on  the  way." 

Aswarak  moved  not  forward;  but  as  Bhanavar  laid  the 
Jewel  in  her  bosom  he  tore  the  veil  from  her  darkened 
head,  and  caught  her  to  him  and  kissed  her.  Then  Bhana- 
var laughed  and  shouted,  "How  is  it  with  thee,  "Vizier 
Aswarak?  " 

He  was  tottering,  and  muttered,  "  'T  is  a  death-chill 
hath  struck  me  even  to  my  marrow." 

So  she  drew  the  Jewel  forth  once  more,  and  rubbed  it 
ablaze,  and  the  noise  of  the  Serpents  neared;  and  they 
streamed  into  the  vault  and  under  it  in  fiery  jets,  sur- 
rounding Bhanavar,  and  whizzing  about  her  till  in  their 
velocity  they  were  indivisible;  and  she  stood  as  a  fountain 
of  fire  clothed  in  flashes  of  the  underworld,  the  new  love- 
liness of  her  face  growing  vivid  violet  like  an  incessant 
lightning  above  them.  Then  stretched  she  her  two  hands, 
and  sang  to  the  Serpents : 

Hither,  hither,  to  the  feast  I 
Hither  to  the  sacrifice  I 
Virtue  for  my  sake  hath  ceased  . 
Now  to  make  an  end  of  Vice  ! 

Twisted-tail  and  treble-tongue, 
Swelling  length  and  greedy  maw  1 
I  have  had  a  horrid  wrong ; 
Retribution  is  the  law ! 

Ye  that  suck'd  my  youthful  lord, 
Now  shall  make  another  meal : 
Seize  the  black  Vizier  abhorr'd ; 
Seize  him!  seize  him  throat  and  heel! 

Set  your  serpent  wits  to  find 
Tortures  of  a  new  device : 
Have  him !  have  him  heart  and  mind ! 
Hither  to  the  sacrifice  1 

Then  she  whirled  with  them  round  and  round  as  a  tem- 
pest whirls ;  and  when  she  had  wound  them  to  a  fury,  lo, 
she  burst  from  the  hissing  circle  and  dragged  Ukleet  from 
the  vault  into  the  passage,  and  blocked  the  entrance  to  the 
vault.  So  was  Queen  Bhanavar  avenged. 


72  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

Now,  she  said  to  Ukleet,  "Ransom  presently  the  broker, 
—  him  they  will  not  harm,"  and  hastened  to  the  King  that 
he  might  see  her  in  her  beauty.  The  King  reclined  on 
cushions  in  the  harem  with  a  fair  slave-girl,  newly  from 
the  mountains,  toying  with  the  pearls  in  her  locks.  Then 
thought  Bhanavar,  "Let  him  not  slight  me!"  So  she 
drew  a  rose-coloured  veil  over  her  face  and  sat  beside 
Mashalleed.  The  King  continued  his  fondling  with  the 
girl,  saying  to  her,  "Was  there  no  destiny  foretold  of  thy 
coming  to  the  palace  of  the  King  to  rule  it,  0  Nashta, 
starbeam  in  the  waters!  and  hadst  thou  no  dream  of  it?" 

Bhanavar  struck  the  King's  arm,  but  he  noticed  her  not, 
and  Nashta  laughed.  Then  Bhanavar  controlled  her  trem- 
bling and  said,  "  A  word,  0  King !  and  vouchsafe  me  a 
hearing." 

The  King  replied  languidly,  still  looking  on  Nashta, 
"  'T  is  a  command  that  the  voice  of  none  that  are  crabbed 
and  hideous  be  heard  in  the  harem,  and  I  find  comfort  in 
it,  O  Nashta !  but  speak  thou,  my  fountain  of  sweet-drop- 
ping lute-notes ! " 

Bhanavar  caught  the  King's  hand  and  said,  "I  have  to 
speak  with  thee ;  't  is  the  Queen.  Chase  from  us  this  little 
wax  puppet  a  space." 

The  King  disengaged  his  hand  and  leaned  it  over  to 
Nashta,  who  began  playing  with  it,  and  fitting  on  it  a 
ring,  giggling.  Then,  as  he  answered  nothing,  Bhanavar 
came  nearer  and  slapped  him  on  the  cheek.  Mashalleed 
started  to  his  feet,  and  his  hand  grasped  his  girdle ;  but 
that  wrathfulness  was  stayed  when  he  beheld  the  veil 
slide  from  her  visage.  So  he  cried,  "  My  Queen !  my 
soul ! " 

She  pointed  to  Nashta,  and  the  King  chid  the  girl,  and 
sent  her  forth  lean  with  his  shifted  displeasure,  as  a  kitten 
slinks  wet  from  a  fish-pond  where  it  had  thought  to  catch 
a  great  fish.  Then  Bhanavar  exclaimed,  "There  was  a 
change  in  thy  manner  to  me  before  that  creature." 

He  sought  to  dissimulate  with  her,  but  at  last  he  con- 
fessed, "I  was  truly  this  morning  the  victim  of  a  sorcery." 

Thereupon  she  cried,  "And  thou  wert  angered  to  find 
me  not  by  thee  on  the  couch,  but  one  in  my  place,  a  hag 
of  ugliness.  Hear  then  the  case,  0  Mashalleed !  Surely 


THE  STORY  OP  BHANAVAB  78 

that  old  crone  had  a  dream,  and  it  was  that  if  she  slept 
one  night  by  the  King  she  would  arise  fresh  in  health 
from  her  ills,  and  with  powers  lasting  a  year  to  heal  others 
of  all  maladies  with  a  touch.  So  she  came  to  me,  peti- 
tioning me  to  bring  this  about.  O  my  lord  the  King,  did 
I  well  in  being  privy  to  her  desire?  " 

The  King  could  not  doubt  this  story  of  Bhanavar,  seeing 
her  constant  loveliness,  and  the  arch  of  her  flashing  brow, 
and  the  oval  of  her  cheek  and  chin  smooth  as  milk.  So 
he  said,  "  0  my  Queen !  I  had  thought  to  go,  as  I  must, 
gladly ;  but  how  shall  I  go,  knowing  thy  truth,  thy  beauty 
unchanged;  thee  faithful,  a  follower  of  the  injunctions  of 
the  Prophet  in  charitable  deeds?  " 

Cried  she,  "And  whither  goeth  my  lord,  and  on  what 
errand?  " 

He  answered,  "The  people  of  a  province  southward  have 
raised  the  standard  of  revolt  and  mocked  my  authority; 
they  have  been  joined  by  certain  of  the  Arab  chiefs  sub- 
ject to  my  dominion,  and  have  defeated  my  armies.  'T  is 
to  subdue  them  I  go ;  yea,  to  crush  them.  Yet,  wullahy ! 
I  know  not.  Care  I  if  kingdoms  fall  away,  and  nations, 
so  that  I  have  thee?  Nay,  let  all  pass,  so  that  thou  re- 
main by  me." 

Bhanavar  paced  from  him  to  a  mirror,  and  frowned  at 
the  reflection  of  her  fairness,  thinking,  "Such  had  he 
spoken  to  the  girl  Nashta,  or  another,  this  King !  "  And 
she  thought,  "  I  have  been  beloved  by  the  noblest  three  on 
earth;  I  will  ask  no  more  of  love;  vengeance  I  have  had. 
'T  is  time  that  I  demand  of  my  beauty  nothing  save  power, 
and  I  will  make  this  King  my  stepping-stone  to  power, 
rejoicing  my  soul  with  the  shock  of  armies." 

Now ,  she  persuaded  Mashalleed  to  take  her  with  him  OB 
his  expedition  against  the  Arabs ;  and  they  set  forth,  head- 
ing a  great  assemblage  of  warriors,  southward  to  the  land 
bordering  the  Desert.  The  King  credited  the  suggestions 
of  Bhanavar,  that  Aswarak  had  disappeared  to  join  the 
rebels,  and  pressed  forward  in  his  eagerness  to  inflict  a 
chastisement  signal  in  swiftness  upon  them  and  that  trai- 
tor; so  eagerly  Mashalleed  journeyed  to  his  army  in  ad- 
vance, that  the  main  body,  with  Bhanavar,  was  left  by 
him  long  behind.  She  had  encouraged  him,  saying,  "1 


74  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

shall  lore  thee  much  if  thou  art  speedy  in  winning  suc- 
cess." The  Queen  was  housed  on  an  elephant,  harnessed 
with  gold,  and  with  silken  purple  trappings;  from  the 
rose-hued  curtains  of  her  palanquin  she  looked  on  a  mighty 
march  of  warriors,  filling  the  extent  of  the  plains ;  all  day 
she  fed  her  sight  on  them.  Surely  the  story  of  her  beauty 
became  noised  among  the  guards  of  her  person  that  rode 
and  ran  beneath  the  royal  elephant,  till  the  soldiers  of 
Mashalleed  spake  but  of  the  beauty  of  the  Queen,  and 
Bhanavar  was  as  a  moon  shining  over  that  sea  of  men. 

Now,  they  had  passed  the  cultivated  fields,  and  were 
halting  by  the  ford  of  a  river  bordering  the  Desert,  when 
lo !  a  warrior  on  the  yonside,  riding  in  a  cloud  of  dust, 
and  his  shout  was,  "  The  King  Mashalleed  is  defeated,  and 
flying."  Then  the  Captains  of  the  host  witnessed  to  the 
greatness  of  Allah,  and  were  troubled  with  a  dread,  fear- 
ing to  advance;  but  Bhanavar  commanded  a  horse  to  be 
saddled  for  her,  and  mounted  it,  and  plunged  through  the 
ford  singly;  so  they  followed  her,  and  all  day  she  rode 
forward  on  horseback,  touching  neither  food  nor  drink. 
By  night  she  was  a  league  beyond  the  foremost  of  them, 
and  fell  upon  the  King  encamped  in  the  Desert,  with  the 
loose  remnant  of  his  forces.  Mashalleed,  when  he  had 
looked  on  her,  forgot  his  affliction,  and  stood  up  to  em- 
brace her,  but  Bhanavar  spurned  him,  crying,  "A  time  for 
this  in  the  time  of  disgrace?"  Then  she  said,  "How 
came  it?" 

He  answered,  "  There  was  a  Chief  among  the  enemy,  an 
Arab,  before  the  terror  of  whom  my  people  fled." 

Cried  she,  "Conquer  him  on  the  morrow,  and  till  then 
I  eat  not,  drink  not,  sleep  not." 

On  the  morrow  Mashalleed  again  encountered  the  rebels, 
and  Bhanavar,  seated  on  her  elephant,  from  a  sand-hillock 
under  a  palm,  beheld  the  prowess  of  the  Arab  Chief  and 
the  tempest  of  battle  that  he  was.  She  thought,  "  I  have 
seen  but  one  mighty  in  combat  like  that  one,  — Kuark,  the 
Chief  of  the  Beni-Asser."  Thereupon  she  coursed  toward 
the  King,  even  where  the  arrows  gloomed  like  locusts, 
thick  and  dark  in  the  air  aloof,  and  said,  "The  victory  is 
with  yonder  Chief!  Hurl  on  him  three  of  thy  sons  of: 
valour." 


THE   STORY   OF   BHANAVAR  75 

The  three  were  selected,  and  made  onslaught  on  this 
Chief,  and  perished  under  his  arm. 

Bhanavar  saw  them  fall,  and  exclaimed,  "Another  at- 
tack on  him,  and  with  thrice  three  !  " 

Her  will  was  the  mandate  of  Mashalleed,  and  these  like- 
wise were  ordered  forth,  and  closed  on  the  Chief,  but  he 
darted  from  their  toils  and  wheeled  about  them,  spearing 
them  one  by  one  till  the  nine  were  in  the  dust.  Bhanavar 
compressed  her  dry  lips,  and  muttered  to  the  King,  "  Head 
thou  a  body  against  him." 

Mashalleed  gathered  round  his  standard  the  chosen  of 
his  warriors,  and  smoothed  his  beard,  and  headed  them. 
Then  the  Chief  struck  his  lance  behind  him,  and  stretched 
rapidly  a  half-circle  across  the  sand,  and  halted  on  a  knoll. 
When  they  neared  him  he  retreated  in  a  further  half- 
circle,  and  continued  this  wise,  wasting  the  fury  of 
Mashalleed,  till  he  stood  among  his  followers.  There,  as 
the  King  hesitated  and  prepared  to  retreat,  he  and  the 
others  of  the  tribe  levelled  their  lances  and  hung  upon  his 
rear,  fretting  them,  slaughtering  captains  of  the  troop. 
When  Mashalleed  turned  to  face  his  pursuer,  the  Chief 
was  alone,  immovable  on  his  mare,  fronting  the  ranks. 
Then  Bhanavar  taunted  the  King,  and  he  essayed  the  cap- 
ture of  that  Chief  a  second  time  and  a  third,  and  it  was 
each  time  as  the  first.  Bhanavar  looked  about  her  with 
rapid  eyes,  murmuring,  "Oh,  what  a  Chief  is  he!  Oh 
that  a  cloud  would  fall,  a  smoke  arise,  to  blind  these 
hosts,  that  I  might  sling  my  serpents  on  him  unseen,  for 
I  will  not  be  vanquished,  though  it  be  by  Buark !  "  So 
she  drew  to  the  King,  and  the  altercation  between  them 
was  fierce  in  the  fury  of  the  battle,  he  saying,  "  'T  is  a 
feint  of  the  Chief,  this  challenge;  and  I  must  succour  the 
left  of  my  army  by  the  well,  that  he  is  overmatching  with 
numbers;  "  and  she,  "If  thou  head  them  not,  then  will  I, 
and  thou  shalt  behold  a  woman  do  what  thou  durst  not, 
and  lose  her  love  and  win  her  scorn."  While  they  spake, 
the  Arabs  they  looked  on  seemed  to  flutter  and  waver,  and 
the  Chief  was  backing  to  them,  calling  to  them  as  'twere 
words  of  shame  to  rally  them.  Seeing  this,  Mashalleed 
charged  against  the  Chief  once  more,  and  lo !  the  Arabs 
opened  to  receive  him,  closing  on  his  band  of  warriors  like 


76  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

waters  whitened  by  the  storm  on  a  fleet  of  swift-scudding 
vessels,  and  there  was  a  dust  and  a  tumult  visible,  such  as 
is  seen  in  the  darkness  when  a  vessel  struck  by  the  light 
ning-bolt  is  sinking,  —  flashes  of  steel,  lifting  of  hands, 
rolling  of  horsemen  and  horses.  Then  Bhanavar  groaned 
aloud,  "  They  are  lost !  Shame  to  us !  only  one  hope  is 
left  —  that  'tis  Ruark,  this  Chief!"  Now,  the  view  of  the 
plain  cleared,  and  with  it  she  beheld  the  army  of  Mashal- 
leed broken,  the  King  borne  down  by  a  dust  of  Arabs;  so 
she  unveiled  her  face  and  rode  on  the  host  with  the  horse- 
men that  guarded  her,  glorious  with  a  crown  of  gold  and 
the  glowing  Jewel  on  her  brow.  When  she  was  a  jave- 
lin's flight  from  them  the  Arabs  shouted  and  paused  in 
terror,  for  the  light  of  her  head  was  as  the  sun  setting 
between  clouds  of  thunder;  but  that  Chief  dashed  forward 
like  a  flame  beaten  level  by  the  wind,  crying,  "Bhanavar; 
Bhanavar!"  and  she  knew  the  features  of  Ruark;  so  she 
said,  "Even  I !  "  And  he  cried  again,  "Bhanavar!  Bhaua- 
var ! "  and  was  as  one  stricken  by  a  shaft.  Then  Bhanavar 
threw  on  him  certain  of  the  horsemen  with  her,  and  he 
suffered  them  without  a  sign  to  surround  him  and  grasp 
his  mare  by  the  bridle-rein,  and  bring  him,  disarmed, 
before  the  Queen.  At  sight  of  Ruark  a  captive  the  Arabs 
fell  into  confusion,  and  lost  heart,  and  were  speedily 
chased  and  scattered  from  the  scene  like  a  loose  spray  be- 
fore the  wind;  but  Mashalleed  the  King  rejoiced  mightily 
and  praised  Bhanavar,  and  the  whole  army  of  the  King 
praised  her,  magnifying  her. 

Now,  with  Ruark  she  interchanged  no  syllable,  and  said 
not  farewell  to  him  when  she  departed  with  Mashalleed, 
to  encounter  other  tribes;  and  the  Chief  was  bound  and 
conducted  a  prisoner  to  the  city  of  the  inland  sea,  and  cast 
into  prison,  in  expectation  of  Death  the  releaser,  and  con- 
tinued there  wellnigh  a  year,  eating  the  bitter  bread  of 
captivity.  In  the  evening  of  every  seventh  day  there 
came  to  him  a  little  mountain  girl,  that  sat  by  him  and 
leaned  a  lute  to  her  bosom,  singing  of  the  mountain  and 
the  desert,  but  he  turned  his  face  from  her  to  the  wall. 
One  day  she  sang  of  Death  the  releaser,  and  Ruark 
thought,  "  'T  is  come !  she  warneth  me !  Merciful  is 
Allah  I "  On  the  morning  that  followed  Ukleet  entered 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAB  77 

the  cell,  and  with  him  three  slaves,  blacks,  armed  with 
scimitars.  So  Ruark  stood  up  and  bore  witness  to  his 
faith,  saying,  "Swift  with  the  stroke!"  but  Ukleet  ex- 
claimed, "Fear  not!  the  end  is  not  yet." 

Then  said  he,  "  Peace  with  thee  !  These  slaves,  0  Chief, 
excelling  in  martial  qualities !  surely  they  're  my  retinue, 
and  the  retinue  of  them  of  my  rank  in  the  palace;  and 
where  I  go  they  go;  for  the  exalted  have  more  shadows 
than  one !  yea,  three  have  they  in  my  case,  even  very 
grimly  black  shadows,  whereon  the  idle  expend  not  laugh- 
ter, and  whoso  joketh  in  their  hearing,  't  is,  wullahy !  the 
last  joke  of  that  person.  In  such-wise  are  the  powerful 
known  among  men,  they  that  stand  very  prominent  in  the 
beams  of  prosperity!  Now  this  of  myself;  but  for  thee 
—  of  a  surety  the  Queen  Bhanavar,  my  mistress,  will  be 
here  by  the  time  of  the  rising  of  the  moon.  In  the  name 
of  Allah!"  Saying  that,  he  departed  in  his  greatness, 
and  Ruark  watched  for  her  that  rose  in  his  soul  as  the 
moon  in  the  heavens. 

Meanwhile  Bhanavar  had  muse'd,  "  'T  is  this  day,  the 
day  when  the  Serpents  desire  their  due,  and  the  King 
Mashalleed  they  shall  have;  for  what  is  life  to  him  but  a 
treachery  and  a  dalliance,  and  what  is  my  hold  on  him  but 
this  Jewel  of  the  Serpents?  He  has  had  the  profit  of 
beauty,  and  he  shall  yield  the  penalty:  my  kiss  is  for 
him,  my  serpent-kiss.  And  I  will  release  Ruark,  and 
espouse  him,  and  war  with  kings,  sultans,  emperors,  infi- 
dels, subduing  them  till  they  worship  me." 

She  flashed  her  figure  in  the  glass,  and  was  lovely 
therein  as  one  in  the  light  of  Paradise;  but  ere  she  reached 
the  King  Mashalleed,  lo!  the  hour  of  the  Serpents  had 
struck,  and  her  beauty  melted  from  her  as  snow  melts 
from  off  the  rock;  and  she  was  suddenly  haggard  in  utter 
uncomeliness,  and  knew  it  not,  but  marched,  smiling  a 
grand  smile,  on  to  the  King.  Now,  as  Mashalleed  lifted 
his  eyes  to  her  he  started  amazed,  crying,  "The  hag 
again ! "  and  she  said,  "What  of  the  hag,  O  my  lord  the 
King?  "  Thereat  he  was  yet  more  amazed,  and  exclaimed, 
"The  hag  of  ugliness  with  the  voice  of  Bhanavar!  Has 
then  the  Queen  lent  that  loathsomeness  her  voice  also?" 

Bhanavar  chilled  a  moment,  and  looked  on  the  faces  ol 


78  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

the  women  present,  and  they  were  staring  at  her,  the 
younger  ones  tittering,  and  among  them  Nashta,  whom 
she  hated.  So  she  cried,  "Away  with  ye!"  But  the 
King  commanded  them,  "  Stay !  "  Then  the  Queen  leaned 
to  him,  saying,  "  I  will  speak  with  my  lord  alone ; " 
whereat  he  shrank  from  her,  and  spat.  Ice  and  flame 
shivered  through  the  blood  of  Bhanavar,  yet  such  was  her 
eagerness  to  give  the  kiss  to  Mashalleed,  that  she  leaned 
to  him,  still  wooing  him  to  her  with  smiles.  Then  the 
King  seized  her  violently,  and  flung  her  over  the  marble 
floor  to  the  very  basin  of  the  fountain,  and  the  crown  that 
was  on  her  brow  fell  and  rolled  to  the  feet  of  Nashta. 
The  girl  lifted  it,  laughing,  and  was  in  the  act  of  fitting 
it  to  her  fair  head  amid  the  chuckles  of  her  companions, 
when  a  slap  from  the  hand  of  Bhanavar  spun  her  twice 
round,  and  she  dropped  to  tho  marble  insensible.  The 
King  bellowed  in  wrath,  and  ran  to  Nashta,  crying  to  the 
Queen,  "  Surrender  that  crown  to  her,  foul  hag !  "  But 
Bhanavar  had  bent  over  the  basin  of  the  fountain,  and 
beheld  the  image  of  her  change  therein,  and  was  hurrying 
from  the  hall  and  down  the  corridors  of  the  palace  to  the 
private  chamber.  So  he  made  bare  the  steel  by  his  side, 
and  followed  her  with  a  number  of  the  harem  guard,  men- 
acing her,  and  commanding  her  to  surrender  the  crown 
with  the  Jewel.  Ere  she  could  lay  hand  on  a  veil,  he  was 
beside  her,  and  she  was  encompassed.  In  that  extremity 
Bhanavar  plucked  the  Jewel  from  her  crown,  and  rubbed 
it,  calling  the  Serpents  to  her.  One  came,  one  only,  and 
that  one  would  not  move  from  her  to  sling  himself  about 
the  neck  of  Mashalleed,  but  whirled  round  her,  hissing : 

Every  hour  a  serpent  dies, 
Till  we  have  the  sacrifice  : 
Sweeten,  sweeten,  with  thy  kiss, 
Quick  !  a  soul  for  Karatis. 

Surely  the  King  bit  his  breath,  marvelling,  and  his  fury 
became  an  awful  fear,  and  he  fell  back  from  her,  molest- 
ing her  no  further.  Then  she  squeezed  the  serpent  till  his 
body  writhed  in  knots,  and  veiled  herself,  and  sprang 
down  a  secret  passage  to  the  garden,  and  it  was  the  time 
of  the  rising  of  the  moon.  Coolness  and  soothingness 


THE  STORY  OP   BHANAVAR  7$ 

dropped  on  her  as  a  balm  from  the  great  light,  and  she 
gazed  on  it  murmuring,  as  in  a  memory: 

Shall  I  counsel  the  moon  in  her  ascending  ?  — 
Stay  under  that  dark  palm-tree  through  the  night, 
Rest  on  the  mountain  slope, 
By  the  crouching  antelope, 
O  thou  enthroned  supremacy  of  light ! 

And  for  ever  the  lustre  thou  art  lending 
Lean  on  the  fair  long  brook  that  leaps  and  leaps, 
Silvery  leaps  and  falls : 
Hang  by  the  mountain-walls, 
Moon !  and  arise  no  more  to  crown  the  steeps, 
For  a  danger  and  dolour  is  thy  wending ! 

And  she  panted  and  sighed,  and  wept,  crying,  "Who, 
who  will  kiss  me  or  have  my  kiss  now,  that  I  may  indeed 
be  as  yonder  beam?  Who,  that  I  may  be  avenged  on  this 
King?  And  who  sang  that  song  of  the  ascending  of  the 
moon,  that  comes  to  me  as  a  part  of  me  from  old  times?  " 
As  she  gazed  on  the  circled  radiance  swimming  under  a 
plume  of  palm  leaves,  she  exclaimed,  "Ruark  !  Ruark  the 
Chief! "  So  she  clasped  her  hands  to  her  bosom,  and 
crouched  under  the  shadows  of  the  garden,  and  fled 
through  the  garden  gates  and  the  streets  of  the  city, 
heavily  veiled,  to  the  prison  where  Ruark  awaited  her 
within  the  walls  and  Ukleet  without.  The  Governor  of 
the  prison  had  been  warned  by  Ukleet  of  her  coming,  and 
the  doors  and  bars  opened  before  her  unchallenged,  till 
she  stood  in  the  cell  of  Ruark ;  her  eyes,  that  were  alone 
unveiled,  scanned  the  countenance  of  the  Chief,  the  fevered 
lustre-jet  of  his  looks,  and  by  the  little  moonlight  in  the 
cell  she  saw  with  a  glance  the  straw-heap  and  the  fetters, 
and  the  black-bread  and  water  untasted  on  the  bench, — 
signs  of  his  misery  and  desire  for  her  coming.  So  she 
greeted  him  with  the  word  of  peace,  and  he  replied  with 
the  name  of  the  All-Merciful.  Then  said  she,  "  0  Kuark, 
of  Rukrooth  thy  mother  tell  me  somewhat  " 

He  answered,  "I  know  nought  of  her  since  that  day. 
Allah  have  her  in  his  keeping !  " 

So  she  cried,  "  How?  What  say'st  thou,  Ruark?  't  is  a 
riddle." 

Then  he,  "  The  oath  of  Kuark  is  no  rope  of  sand !  He 
swore  to  see  her  not  till  he  had  set  eyes  on  Bhanavar.." 


80  THE  SHAVING   OF  SHAGPAT 

She  knelt  by  the  Chief,  saying  in  a  soft  voice,  "Very 
greatly  the  Chief  of  the  Beni-Asser  loved  Bhanavar." 
And  she  thought,  "Yea!  greatly  and  verily  love  I  him-, 
and  he  shall  be  no  victim  of  the  Serpents,  for  I  defy  them 
and  give  them  other  prey."  So  she  said  in  deeper  notes, 
"  Kuark  !  the  Queen  is  come  hither  to  release  thee.  0  my 
Chief!  0  thou  soul  of  wrath!  Kuark,  my  fire-eye!  my 
eagle  of  the  desert!  where  is  one  on  earth  beloved  as  thou 
art  by  Bhanavar?  "  The  dark  light  in  his  eyes  kindled  as 
light  in  the  eyes  of  a  lion,  and  she  continued,  "Kuark, 
what  a  yoke  is  hers  who  weareth  this  crown !  He  that  is 
my  lord,  how  am  I  mated  to  him  save  in  loathing?  0  my 
Chief,  my  lion !  hadst  thou  no  dream  of  Bhanavar,  that 
she  would  come  hither  to  unbind  thee  and  lift  thee  beside 
her,  and  live  with  thee  in  love  and  veilless  loveliness,  — 
thine?  Yea!  and  in  power  over  lands  and  nations  and 
armies,  lording  the  Infidel,  taming  them  to  submission, 
exulting  in  defiance  and  assaults  and  victories  and  magna- 
nimities —  thou  and  she?  "  Then  while  his  breast  heaved 
like  a  broad  wave,  the  Queen  started  to  her  feet,  crying, 
"Lo,  she  is  here  !  and  this  she  offereth  thee,  Kuark!  " 

A  shrill  cry  parted  from  her  lips,  and  to  the  clapping 
of  her  hands  slaves  entered  the  cell  with  lamps,  and  in- 
struments to  strike  off  the  fetters  from  the  Chief;  and 
they  released  him,  and  Ruark  leaned  on  their  shoulders  to 
bear  the  weight  of  a  limb,  so  was  he  weakened  by  captiv- 
ity; but  Bhanavar  thrust  them  from  the  Chief,  and  took 
the  pressure  of  his  elbow  on  her  own  shoulder,  and  walked 
with  him  thus  to  the  door  of  the  cell,  he  sighing  as  one  in 
a  dream  that  dreameth  the  bliss  of  bliss.  Now  they  had 
gone  three  paces  onward,  and  were  in  the  light  of  many 
lamps,  when  behold !  the  veil  of  Bhanavar  caught  in  the 
sleeve  of  Kuark  as  he  lifted  it,  and  her  visage  became 
bare.  She  shrieked,  and  caught  up  her  two  hands  to  her 
brow,  but  the  slaves  had  a  glimpse  of  her,  and  said  among 
themselves,  "This  is  not  the  Queen."  And  they  mur- 
mured, "  'T  is  an  impostor !  one  in  league  with  the  Chief." 
Bhanavar  heard  them  say,  "Arrest  her  with  him  at  the 
Governor's  gate,"  and  summoned  her  soul,  thinking,  "He 
loveth  me,  the  Chief!  he  will  look  into  my  eyes  and  mark 
not  the  change.  What  need  I  then  to  dread  his  scorn 


THE  STORY  OF  BH  AN  AVAR  81 

when  I  ask  of  him  the  kiss :  now  must  it  be  given,  or  we 
are  lost,  both  of  us !  "  and  she  raised  her  head  on  Ruark, 
and  said  to  him,  "0  my  Chief,  ere  we  leave  these  walls 
and  join  our  fates,  wilt  thou  plight  thyself  to  me  with  a 
kiss?  " 

Ruark  leapt  to  her  like  the  bounding  leopard,  and  gave 
her  the  kiss,  as  were  it  his  whole  soul  he  gave.  Then  in 
a  moment  Bhanavar  felt  the  blush  of  beauty  burn  over 
her,  and  drew  the  veil  down  on  her  face,  and  suffered  the 
slaves  to  arrest  her  with  Ruark,  and  bring  her  before  the 
Governor,  and  from  the  Governor  to  the  King  in  his 
council-chamber,  with  the  Chief  of  the  Beni-Asser. 

Now,  the  King  Mashalleed  called  to  her,  "Thou  trai- 
tress !  thou  sorceress !  thou  serpent!  " 

And  she  answered  under  the  veil,  "What,  O  my  lord 
the  King!  and  wherefore  these  evil  names  of  me?" 

Cried  he,  "  Thou  thing  of  guile !  and  thou  hast  pleaded 
with  me  for  the  life  of  the  Chief  thus  long  to  visit  him  in 
secret !  Life  of  my  head !  but  Mashalleed  is  not  one  to  be 
fooled." 

So  she  said,  "'Tis  Bhanavar!  hast  thou  forgotten  her?" 

Then  he  waxed  white  with  rage,  exclaiming,  "  Yea,  't  is 
she !  a  serpent  in  the  slough !  and  Ukleet  in  the  torture 
hath  told  of  thee  what  is  known  to  him.  Unveil !  unveil !  '* 

She  threw  the  veil  from  her  figure,  and  smiled,  for 
Mashalleed  was  mute,  the  torrent  of  invective  frozen  on 
his  mouth  when  he  beheld  the  miracle  of  beauty  that  sh& 
was,  the  splendid  jewel  of  throbbing  loveliness.  So  to 
scourge  him  with  the  bitter  lash  of  jealousy,  Bhanavar 
turned  her  eyes  on  Ruark,  and  said  sweetly,  "Yet  shalt 
thou  live  to  taste  again  the  bliss  of  the  Desert.  Pleasant 
was  our  time  in  it,  0  my  Chief!"  The  King  glared  and 
choked,  and  she  said  again,  "Nor  he  conquered  thee,  but 
I;  and  I  that  conquered  thee,  little  will  it  be  for  me  to 
conquer  him:  his  threats  are  the  winds  of  idleness." 

Surely  the  world  darkened  before  the  eyes  of  Mashaileed, 
and  he  arose  and  ealled  to  his  guard  hoarsely,  "  Have  off 
their  heads!"  They  hesitated,  dreading  the  Queen,  and 
he  roared,  "  Slay  them !  " 

Bhanavar  beheld  the  winking  of  the  steel,  but  ere  the 
scimitars  descended,  she  seized  Ruark,  and  they  stood  in  a 


82  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

whizzing  ring  of  serpents,  the  sound  of  whom  was  as  th« 
hum  of  a  thousand  wires  struck  by  storm-winds.  Then 
she  glowed,  towering  over  them  with  the  Chief  clasped  to 
her,  and  crying: 

King  of  vileness  I  match  thy  slaves 
With  my  creatures  of  the  caves. 

And  she  sang  to  the  Serpents : 

Seize  upon  him !  sting  him  thro* 
Thrice  this  day  shall  pay  your  due. 

But  they,  instead  of  obeying  her  injunction,  made  nar- 
rower their  circle  round  Bhanavar  and  the  Chief.  She 
yellowed,  and  took  hold  of  the  nearest  Serpent  horribly, 
crying: 

Dare  against  me  to  rebel, 
Ye,  the  bitter  brood  of  hell  ? 

And  the  Serpent  gasped  in  reply; 

One  the  kiss  to  as  secures  : 
Give  as  ours,  and  we  are  yours. 

Thereupon  another  of  the  Serpents  swung  on  the  feet  of 
Ruark,  winding  his  length  upward  round  the  body  of  the 
Chief;  so  she  tugged  at  that  one,  tearing  it  from  him  vio- 
lently, and  crying: 

Him  ye  shall  not  have,  I  swear  I 
Seize  the  King  that 's  crouching  there. 

And  that  Serpent  hissed: 

This  is  he  the  kiss  ensures : 
Give  us  ours,  and  we  are  yours. 

Another  and  another  Serpent  she  flung  from  the  Chief, 
and  they  began  to  swarm  venomously,  answering  her  no 
more.  Then  Ruark  bore  witness  to  his  faith,  and  folded 
his  arms  with  the  grave  smile  she  had  known  in  the  des- 
ert; and  Bhanavar  struggled  and  tussled  with  the  Serpents 
in  fierceness,  strangling  and  tossing  them  to  right  and  left. 

"Great  is  Allah  I  "  cried  all  present,  and  the  King  trem- 
bled, for  never  was  sight  like  that  seen,  the  hall  flashing 


THE  STORY   OP  BHANAVAR  83 

with  the  Serpents,  and  a  woman-Serpent,  their  Queen,  rag 
ing  to  save  one  from  their  fury,  shrieking  at  intervals : 

Never,  never  shall  ye  fold, 
Save  with  me  the  man  I  hold. 

But  now  the  hiss  and  scream  of  the  Serpents  and  the 
noise  of  their  circling  was  quickened  to  a  slurred  savage 
sound  and  they  closed  on  Ruark,  and  she  felt  him  stifling 
and  that  they  were  relentless.  So  in  the  height  of  the 
tempest  Bhanavar  seized  the  Jewel  in  the  gold  circlet  on 
her  brow  and  cast  it  from  her.  Lo!  the  Serpents  instantly 
abated  their  frenzy,  and  flew  all  of  them  to  pluck  the 
Jewel,  chasing  the  one  that  had  it  in  his  fangs  through 
the  casement,  and  the  hall  breathed  empty  of  them.  Then 
in  the  silence  that  was,  Bhanavar  veiled  her  face  and  said 
to  the  Chief,  "  Pass  from  the  hall  while  they  yet  dread  me. 
No  longer  am  I  Queen  of  Serpents." 

But  he  replied,  "Nay!  said  I  not  my  soul  is  thine?" 

She  cried  to  him,  "Seest  thou  not  the  change  in  me? 
I  was  bound  to  those  Serpents  for  my  beauty,  and  't  is 
gone!  Now  am  I  powerless,  hateful  to  look  on,  O  Ruark 
my  Chief!  " 

He  remained  still,  saying,  "  What  thou  hast  been  thou 
art." 

She  exclaimed,  "  0  true  soul,  the  light  is  hateful  to  me 
as  I  to  the  light ;  but  I  will  yet  save  thee  to  comfort  Ruk- 
rooth,  thy  mother." 

So  she  drew  him  with  her  swiftly  from  the  hall  of  the 
King  ere  the  King  had  recovered  his  voice  of  command; 
but  now  the  wrath  of  the  All-powerful  was  upon  her  and 
him!  Surely  within  an  hour  from  the  flight  of  the  Ser- 
pents, the  slaves  and  soldiers  of  Mashalleed  laid  at  his 
feet  two  heads  that  were  the  heads  of  Ruark  and  Bhana- 
var; and  they  said,  "O  great  King,  we  tracked  them  to 
her  chamber  and  through  to  a  passage  and  a  vault  hung 
with  black,  wherein  were  two  corpses,  one  in  a  tomb  and 
one  unburied,  and  we  slew  them  there,  clasping  each  other, 
0  King  of  the  age!" 

Mashalleed  gazed  upon  the  head  of  Bhanavar  and  sighed, 
for  death  had  made  the  head  again  fair  with  a  wondrous 
beauty,  a  loveliness  never  before  seen  on  earth. 


THE  BETROTHAL 


,  when  Shibli  Bagarag  had  ceased  speaking,  the  Viz« 
ier  smiled  gravely,  and  shook  his  beard  with  satisfaction, 
and  said  to  the  Eclipser  of  Reason,  "What  opinest  thou  of 
this  nephew  of  the  barber,  0  Noorna  bin  Noorka?  " 

She  answered,  "  0  Feshnavat,  my  father,  truly  I  am  con- 
tent with  the  bargain  of  my  betrothal.  He,  Wullahy,  is 
a  fair  youth,  of  flowing  speech."  Then  she  said,  "Ask 
thou  him  what  he  opineth  of  me,  his  betrothed?" 

So  the  Vizier  put  that  interrogation  to  Shibli  Bagarag, 
and  the  youth  was  in  perplexity;  thinking,  "Is  it  possi- 
ble to  be  joyful  in  the  embrace  of  one  that  hath  brought 
thwackings  upon  us,  serious  blows?  "  Thinking,  "  Yet 
hath  she,  when  the  mood  cometh,  kindly  looks;  and  I 
marked  her  eye  dwelling  on  me  admiringly  !  "  And  he 
thought,  "Mayhap,  she  that  groweth  younger  and  count- 
eth  nature  backwards,  hath  a  history  that  would  affect  me; 
or,  it  may  be,  my  kisses  —  wah  !  I  like  not  to  give  them, 
and  it  is  said, 

'Love  is  wither'd  by  the  withered  lip;* 
and  that, 

*  On  bones  become  too  prominent  he  11  trip.' 

Yet  put  the  case,  that  my  kisses  —  I  shower  them  not, 
Allah  the  All-seeing  is  my  witness  !  and  they  be  given 
daintily  as  't  were  to  the  leaf  of  a  nettle,  or  over-hot  pilau. 
Yet  haply  kisses  repeated  might  restore  her  to  a  bloom, 
and  it  is  certain  youth  is  somehow  stolen  from  her,  if  the 
Vizier  Feshnavat  went  before  her,  and  his  blood  be  her 
blood;  and  he  is  powerful,  she  wise.  I  '11  decide  to  act 
the  part  of  a  rejoicer,  and  express  of  her  opinions  honeyed 
to  the  soul  of  that  sex." 


THE  BETROTHAL  85 

Now,  while  he  was  thus  debating  he  hung  his  head,  and 
the  Vizier  awaited  his  response,  knitting  his  brows  angrily 
at  the  delay,  and  at  the  last  he  cried,  "  What !  no  answer? 
how  's  this?  Shall  thy  like  dare  hold  debate  when  ques- 
tioned of  my  like?  And  is  my  daughter  Noorna  bin 
Noorka,  thinkest  thou,  a  slave-girl  in  the  market,  —  thou 
haggling  at  her  price,  0  thou  nephew  of  the  barber?  " 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  exclaimed,  "O  exalted  one,  bestower 
of  the  bride !  surely  I  debated  with  myself  but  for  appro- 
priate terms;  and  I  delayed  to  select  the  metre  of  the 
verse  fitting  my  thoughts  of  her,  and  my  wondrous  good 
fortune,  and  the  honour  done  me." 

Then  the  Vizier,  "Let  us  hear:  we  listen." 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  was  advised  to  deal  with  illustra- 
tions in  his  dilemma,  by-ways  of  expression,  and  spake  in 
extemporaneous  verse,  and  with  a  full  voice : 

The  pupils  of  the  Sage  for  living  Beauty  sought ; 

And  one  a  Vision  clasped,  and  one  a  Model  wrought. 

"  I  have  it !  "  each  exclaimed,  and  rivalry  arose 

"  Paint  me  thy  Maid  of  air ! "     "  Thy  Grace  of  clay  disclose." 

"  What !  limbs  that  cannot  move  ! "     "What !  lips  that  melt  away ! " 

"  Keep  thon  thy  Maid  of  air !  "     "  Shroud  up  thy  Grace  of  clay  1 " 

T  was  thus,  contending  hot,  they  went  before  the  Sage, 

And  knelt  at  the  wise  wells  of  cold  ascetic  age. 

"  The  fairest  of  the  twain,  O  father,  thou  record : " 

He  answered,  "  Fairest  she  who 's  likest  to  her  lord." 

Said  they,  "  What  fairer  thing  matched  with  them  might  prevail »  te 

The  Sage  austerely  smiled,  and  said,  "  Yon  monkey's  taiL 

T  is  left  for  after-time  his  wisdom  to  declare: 

That 's  loveliest  we  best  love,  and  to  ourselves  compare. 

Yet  lovelier  than  all  hands  shape  or  fancies  build, 

The  meanest  thing  of  earth  God  with  his  fire  hath  filled. 

Now,  when  Shibli  Bagarag  ceased,  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
cried,  "Enough,  0  wondrous  turner  of  verse,  thou  that  art 
honest ! "  And  she  laughed  loudly,  rustling  like  a  bag  of 
shavings,  and  rolling  in  her  laughter. 

Then  said  she,  "O  my  betrothed,  is  not  the  thing  thou 
wouldst  say  no  other  than  — 

'  Each  to  his  mind  doth  the  fairest  enfold, 
For  broken  long  since  was  Beauty's  mould ; 

and,  '  Thou  that  art  old,  withered,  I  cannot  natter  thee,  as 
I  can  in  no  way  pay  compliments  to  the  monkey's  tail  of 


86  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

high  design;  nevertheless  the  Sage  would  do  thee  honour  '  ? 
So  read  I  thy  illustration,  0  keen  of  wit !  and  thou  art  for- 
given its  boldness,  my  betrothed,  —  Wullahy  !  utterly  so." 
Now,  the  youth  was  abashed  at  her  discernment,  and 
the  kindliness  of  her  manner  won  him  to  say: 

There  'a  many  a  flower  of  sweetness,  there  '•  many  a  gem  of  earth 
Would  thrill  with  bliss  our  being,  could  we  perceive  its  worth. 
O  beauteous  is  creation,  in  fashion  and  device  ! 
If  I  have  fail'd  to  think  thee  fair,  't  is  blindness  is  my  vice. 

And  she  answered  him : 

I  've  proved  thy  wit  and  power  of  verse, 
That  is  at  will  diffuse  and  terse : 
Lest  thou  commence  to  lie  —  be  dumb  ! 
I  am  content :  the  time  will  come ! 

Then  she  said  to  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  "  0  my  father, 
there  is  all  in  this  youth,  the  nephew  of  the  barber,  that 's 
desireable  for  the  undertaking;  and  his  feet  will  be  on  a 
level  with  the  task  we  propose  for  him,  he  the  height  of 
man  above  it.  'T  is  clear  that  vanity  will  trip  him,  but 
honesty  is  a  strong  upholder;  and  he  is  one  that  hath  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  and  the  mask  of  dissimulation :  grati- 
tude I  observe  in  him;  and  it  is  as  I  thought  when  I  came 
upon  him  on  the  sand-hill  outside  the  city,  that  his  star  is 
clearly  in  a  web  with  our  star,  he  destined  for  the  Shav- 
ing of  Shagpat." 

So  the  Vizier  replied,  "  He  hath  had  thwackings,  yet  is 
he  not  deterred  from  making  further  attempt  on  Shagpat. 
I  think  well  of  him,  and  I  augur  hopefully.  Wullahy! 
the  Cadi  shall  be  sent  for;  I  can  sleep  in  his  secrecy;  and 
he  shall  perform  the  ceremonies  of  betrothal,  even  now 
and  where  we  sit,  and  it  shall  be  for  him  to  write  the 
terms  of  contract:  so  shall  we  bind  the  youth  firmly  to  us, 
and  he  will  be  one  of  us  as  we  are,  devoted  to  the  under- 
taking by  three  bonds  —  the  bond  of  vengeance,  the  bond 
of  ambition,  and  that  of  love." 

Now,  so  it  was  that  the  Vizier  despatched  a  summons 
for  the  attendance  of  the  Cadi,  and  he  came  and  performed 
between  Shibli  Bagarag  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka  ceremo- 
nies of  betrothal,  and  wrote  terms  of  contract;  and  they 
were  witnessed  duly  by  the  legal  number  of  witnesses,  and 


THE  BETROTHAL  87 

so  worded  that  he  had  no  claim  on  her  as  wife  till  such 
time  as  the  Event  to  which  he  bound  himself  was  mas- 
tered. Then  the  fees  being  paid,  and  compliments  inter- 
changed, the  Vizier  exclaimed,  "Be  ye  happy!  and  let  the 
weak  cling  to  the  strong;  and  be  ye  two  to  one  in  this 
world  and  no  split  halves  that  betray  division  and  stick 
not  together  when  the  gum  is  heated."  Then  he  made  a 
sign  to  the  Cadi  and  them  that  had  witnessed  the  contract 
to  follow  him,  leaving  the  betrothed  ones  to  their  own 
company. 

So  when  they  were  alone  Noorna  gazed  on  the  youth 
wistfully,  and  said  in  a  soft  tone,  "  Thou  art  dazed  with 
the  adventure,  0  youth!  Surely  there  is  one  kiss  owing 
me:  art  thou  willing?  Am  I  reduced  to  beg  it  of  thee? 
Or  dream'st  thou?" 

He  lifted  his  head  and  replied,  "Even  so." 

Thereat  he  stood  up  languidly,  and  went  to  her  and 
kissed  her.  And  she  smiled  and  said,  "I  wot  it  will  be 
otherwise,  and  thou  wilt  learn  swiftness  of  limb,  bright- 
ness of  eye,  and  the  longing  for  earthly  beatitude,  when 
next  I  ask  thee,  0  my  betrothed !  " 

Lo!  while  she  spake,  new  light  seemed  in  her;  and  it 
was  as  if  a  splendid  jewel  were  struggling  to  cast  its  beams 
through  the  sides  of  a  crystal  vase  smeared  with  dust 
and  old  dirt  and  spinnings  of  the  damp  spider.  He  was 
amazed,  and  cried,  "How  's  this?  What  change  is  pass- 
ing in  thee?" 

She  said,  "Joy  in  thy  kiss,  and  that  I  have  'scaped 
Shagpat." 

Then  he:  "Shagpat?  How?  had  that  wretch  claim  over 
thee  ere  I  came?" 

But  she  looked  fearfully  at  the  corners  of  the  room  and 
exclaimed,  "  Hush,  my  betrothed !  speak  not  of  him  in  that 
fashion,  Jt  is  dangerous ;  and  my  power  cannot  keep  off  his 
emissaries  at  all  times."  Then  she  said,  "0  my  betrothed, 
know  me  a  sorceress  ensorcelled;  not  that  I  seem,  but  that 
I  shall  be!  Wait  thou  for  the  time  and  it  will  reward 
thee.  What !  thou  think'st  to  have  plucked  a  wrinkled 
o'erripe  fruit,  —  a  mouldy  pomegranate  under  the  branches, 
a  sour  tamarind?  JT  is  well !  I  say  nought,  save  that 
time  will  come,  and  be  thou  content.  It  is  truly  as  I 


88  THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

said,  that  I  have  thee  between  me  and  Shagpat ;  and  that 
honoured  one  of  this  city  thought  fit  in  his  presumption  to 
demand  me  in  marriage  at  the  hands  of  my  father,  know- 
ing me  wise,  and  knowing  the  thing  that  transformed  me 
to  this,  the  abominable  fellow !  Surely  my  father  enter- 
tained not  his  proposal  save  with  scorn;  but  the  King 
looked  favourably  on  it,  and  it  is  even  now  matter  of  re- 
proach to  Feshnavat,  my  father,  that  he  withholdeth  me 
from  Shagpat." 

Quoth  Shibli  Bagarag,  "A  clothier,  0  Noorna,  control 
the  Vizier  !  and  demand  of  him  his  daughter  in  marriage ! 
and  a  clothier  influence  the  King  against  his  Vizier !  — 
't  is,  wullahy  !  a  riddle." 

She  replied,  "  'T  is  even  so,  eyes  of  mine,  my  betrothed ! 
but  thou  know'st  not  Shagpat,  and  that  he  is.  Lo!  the 
King,  and  all  of  this  city  save  we  three,  are  held  in  en- 
chantment by  him,  and  made  foolish  by  one  hair  that 's  in 
his  head." 

Shibli  Bagarag  started  in  his  seat  like  one  that  shineth 
with  a  discovery,  and  cried,  "  The  Identical ! " 

Then  she,  sighing,  "  'T  is  that  indeed !  but  the  Identical 
of  Identicals,  the  chief  and  head  of  them,  and  I,  woe  's 
me  !  I,  the  planter  of  it." 

So  he  said,  "  How  so?  " 

But  she  cried,  "  I  '11  tell  thee  not  here,  nor  aught  of  my- 
self and  him,  and  the  Genie  held  in  bondage  by  me,  till 
*hou  art  proved  by  adventure,  and  we  float  peacefully  on 
ehe  sea  of  the  Bright  Lily :  there  shalt  thou  see  me  as  I 
am,  and  hear  my  story,  and  marvel  at  it;  for  'tis  won- 
drous, and  a  manifestation  of  the  Power  that  dwelleth 
unseen." 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  pondered  awhile  on  the  strange  nature 
of  the  things  she  hinted,  and  laughter  seized  him  as  he 
reflected  on  Shagpat,  and  the  whole  city  enchanted  by  one 
hair  in  his  head;  and  he  exclaimed,  "0  Noorna,  knoweth 
he,  Shagpat,  of  the  might  in  him?" 

She  answered,  "  Enough  for  his  vain  soul  that  homage 
is  paid  to  him,  and  he  careth  not  for  the  wherefore ! " 

Shibli  Bagarag  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  deep-flowered  car- 
pets of  the  floor,  as  if  reading  there  a  matter  quaintly 
written,  and  smiled,  saying,  "  What  boldness  was  mine  — 


THE  BETROTHAL  89 

the  making  offer  to  shear  Shagpat,  the  lion  in  his  lair,  he 
that  holdeth  a  whole  city  in  enchantment !  Wah !  't  was 
an  instance  of  daring ! " 

And  Noorna  said,  "Not  only  an  entire  city,  but  other 
cities  affected  by  him,  as  witness  Oolb,  whither  thou  wilt 
go;  and  there  be  governments  and  states,  and  conditions 
of  men  remote,  that  hang  upon  him,  Shagpat.  'T  is  even 
so;  I  swell  not  his  size.  When  thou  hast  mastered  the 
Event,  and  sent  him  forth  shivering  from  thy  blade  like 
the  shorn  lamb,  't  will  be  known  how  great  a  thing  has 
been  achieved,  and  a  record  for  the  generations  to  come; 
choice  is  that  historian  destined  to  record  it!  " 

Quoth  he,  looking  eagerly  at  her,  "0  Noorna,  what  is  it 
in  thy  speech  affecteth  me?  Surely  it  infuseth  the  vigour 
of  wine,  old  wine ;  and  I  shiver  with  desire  to  shave  Shag- 
pat,  and  spin  threads  for  the  historian  to  weave  in  order. 
I,  wullahy!  had  but  dry  visions  of  the  greatness  destined 
for  me  till  now,  my  betrothed !  Shall  I  master  an  Event 
in  shaving  him,  and  be  told  of  to  future  ages?  By  Allah 
and  his  Prophet  (praise  be  to  that  name !),  this  is  great- 
ness !  Say,  Noorna,  hadst  thou  foreknowledge  of  me  and 
my  coming  to  this  city?  " 

So  she  said,  "  I  was  on  the  roofs  one  night  among  the 
stars  ere  moonrise,  0  my  betrothed,  and  't  was  close  on  the 
rise  of  this  very  month's  moon.  The  star  of  our  enemy, 
Shagpat,  was  large  and  red,  mine  as  it  were  menaced  by 
its  proximity,  nigh  swallowed  in  its  haughty  beams  and 
the  steady  overbearings  of  its  effulgence.  'T  was  so  as  it 
had  long  been,  when  suddenly,  lo !  a  star  from  the  upper 
heaven  that  shot  down  between  them  wildly,  and  my  stai 
took  lustre  from  it;  and  the  star  of  Shagpat  trembled  like 
a  ring  on  a  tightened  rope,  and  waved  and  flickered,  and 
seemed  to  come  forward  and  to  retire ;  and  't  was  presently 
as  a  comet  in  the  sky,  bright,  — a  tadpole,  with  large  head 
and  lengthy  tail,  in  the  assembly  of  the  planets.  This  I 
saw :  and  that  the  stranger  star  was  stationed  by  my  star, 
shielding  it,  and  that  it  drew  nearer  to  my  star,  and  en- 
tered its  circle,  and  that  the  two  stars  seemed  mixing  the 
splendour  that  was  theirs.  Now,  that  sight  amazed  me, 
and  my  heart  in  its  beating  quickened  with  the  expecta 
tion  of  things  approaching.  Surely  I  rendered  praise,  and 


90  THE   SHAVING   OF   8HAGPAT 

pressed  both  hands  on  my  bosom,  and  watched,  and  be- 
hold!  the  comet,  the  illumined  tadpole,  was  becoming 
restless  beneath  the  joint  rays  of  the  twain  that  were  dom- 
inating him;  and  he  diminished,  and  lashed  his  tail  un- 
easily, half  madly,  darting  as  do  captured  beasts  from  the 
fetters  that  constrain  them.  Then  went  there  from  thy 
star  —  for  I  know  now  't  was  thine  —  a  momentary  flash 
across  the  head  of  the  tadpole,  and  again  another  and  an- 
other, rapidly,  pertinaciously.  And  from  thy  star  there 
passed  repeated  flashes  across  the  head  of  the  tadpole,  till 
his  brilliance  was  as  'twere  severed  from  him,  and  he, 
like  drossy  silver,  a  dead  shape  in  the  conspicuous  heav- 
ens. And  he  became  yellow  as  the  rolling  eyes  of  sick 
wretches  in  pain,  and  shrank  in  his  place  like  pale  parch- 
ment at  the  touch  of  flame;  dull  was  he  as  an  animal  fas- 
cinated by  fear,  and  deprived  of  all  power  to  make  head 
against  the  foe,  darkness,  that  now  beset  him,  and  usurped 
part  of  his  yet  lively  tail,  and  settled  on  his  head,  and 
coated  part  of  his  body.  So  when  this  tadpole,  that  was 
once  terrible  to  roe,  became  turbaned,  shoed,  and  shawled 
with  darkness,  and  there  was  little  of  him  remaining  visi- 
ble, lo !  a  concluding  flash  shot  from  thy  star,  and  he  fell 
heavily  down  the  sky  and  below  the  hills,  into  the  sea, 
that  is  the  Enchanted  Sea,  whose  Queen  is  Eabesqurat, 
Mistress  of  Illusions.  Now,  when  my  soul  recovered  from 
amazement  at  the  marvels  seen,  I  arose  and  went  from  the 
starry  roofs  to  consult  my  books  of  magic,  and  't  was  re- 
vealed to  me  that  one  was  wandering  to  a  junction  with 
my  destiny,  and  that  by  his  means  the  great  aim  would  of 
a  surety  be  accomplished  —  Shagpat  Shaved !  So  my  pur- 
pose was  to  discover  him;  and  I  made  calculations,  and 
summoned  them  that  serve  me  to  search  for  such  a  youth 
as  thou  art;  fairly,  O  my  betrothed,  did  I  preconceive 
thee.  And  so  it  was  that  I  traced  a  magic  line  from  the 
sand-hills  to  the  city,  and  from  the  outer  hills  to  the  sand- 
hills; and  whoso  approached  by  that  line  I  knew  was  he 
marked  out  as  my  champion,  my  betrothed,  —  a  youth  des- 
tined for  great  things.  Was  I  right?  The  egg  hatcheth. 
Thou  art  already  proved  by  thwackings,  seasoned  to  the 
undertaking,  and  I  doubt  not  thou  art  he  that  will  finish 
with  that  tadpole  Shagpat,  and  sit  in  the  high  seat,  thy 


THE  BETROTHAL  91 

name  an  odour  in  distant  lands,  a  joy  to  the  historian,  the 
Compiler  of  Events,  thou  Master  of  the  Event,  the  great- 
est which  time  will  witness  for  ages  to  come." 

When  she  had  spoken  Shibli  Bagarag  considered  her 
words,  and  the  knowledge  that  he  was  selected  by  destiny 
as  Master  of  the  Event  inflated  him;  and  he  was  a  hawk 
in  eagerness,  a  peacock  in  pride,  an  ostrich  in  fulness  of 
chest,  crying,  "O  Noorna  bin  Noorka!  is 't  really  so? 
Truly  it  must  be,  for  the  readers  of  planets  were  also  busy 
with  me  at  the  time  of  my  birth,  interpreting  of  me  in  ex- 
cessive agitation;  and  the  thing  they  foretold  is  as  thou 
foretellest.  I  am,  wullahy!  marked:  I  walk  manifest  in 
the  eye  of  Providence." 

Thereupon  he  exulted,  and  his  mind  strutted  through 
the  future  of  his  days,  and  down  the  ladder  of  all  time, 
exacting  homage  from  men,  his  brethren;  and  'twas  be- 
yond the  art  of  Noorna  to  fix  him  to  the  present  duties  of 
the  enterprise :  he  was  as  feathered  seed  before  the  breath 
of  vanity. 

Now,  while  the  twain  discoursed,  she  of  the  prepara- 
tions for  shaving  Shagpat,  he  of  his  completion  of  the 
deed,  and  the  honours  due  to  him  as  Master  of  the  Event, 
Feshnavat  the  Vizier  returned  to  them  from  his  entertain- 
ment of  the  Cadi ;  and  he  had  bribed  him  to  silence  with 
a  mighty  bribe.  So  he  called  to  them  — 

"Ho !  be  ye  ready  to  commence  the  work?  and  have  ye 
advised  together  as  to  the  beginning?  True  is  that  triplet: 

'  Whatever  enterprize  man  hath, 
For  waking  love  or  curbing  wrath, 
'T  is  the  first  step  that  makes  a  path.' 

And  how  have  ye  determined  as  to  that  first  step?  " 

Noorna  replied,  "  0  my  father !  we  have  not  decided, 
and  there  hath  been  yet  no  deliberation  between  us  as  to 
that." 

Then  he  said,  "All  this  while  have  ye  talked,  and  no 
deliberation  as  to  that !  Lo,  I  have  drawn  the  Cadi  to  our 
plot,  and  bribed  him  with  a  mighty  bribe;  and  I  have  pre- 
pared possible  disguises  for  this  nephew  of  the  barber; 
and  I  have  had  the  witnesses  of  thy  betrothal  despatched 
to  foreign  parts,  far  kingdoms  in  the  land  of  Koum,  to 


92  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

prevent  tattling  and  gabbling;  and  ye  that  were  left  alone 
for  debating  as  to  the  great  deed,  ye  have  not  yet  deliber- 
ated as  to  that!  Is  't  known  to  ye,  0  gabblers,  aught  of 
the  punishment  inflicted  by  Shahpesh,  the  Persian,  on 
Khipil,  the  Builder?  —  a  punishment  that,  by  Allah  !  " 

Shibli  Bagarag  said,  "How  of  that  punishment,  0 
Vizier?  " 

And  the  Vizier  narrated  as  followeth. 


AND  THIS  IS  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF 
SHAHPESH,  THE  PERSIAN,  ON  KHIPIL, 
THE  BUILDER. 

THEY  relate  that  Shahpesh,  the  Persian,  commanded  the 
building  of  a  palace,  and  Khipil  was  his  builder.  The 
work  lingered  from  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  Shahpesh 
even  to  his  fourth.  One  day  Shahpesh  went  to  the  river- 
side where  it  stood,  to  inspect  it.  Khipil  was  sitting  on 
a  marble  slab  among  the  stones  and  blocks;  round  him 
stretched  lazily  the  masons  and  stonecutters  and  slaves  of 
burden ;  and  they  with  the  curve  of  humorous  enjoyment 
on  their  lips,  for  he  was  reciting  to  them  adventures,  in- 
terspersed with  anecdotes  and  recitations  and  poetic  in- 
stances, as  was  his  wont.  They  were  like  pleased  flocks 
whom  the  shepherd  hath  led  to  a  pasture  freshened  with 
brooks,  there  to  feed  indolently;  he,  the  shepherd,  in  the 
midst. 

Now,  the  King  said  to  him,  "0  Khipil,  show  me  my 
palace  where  it  standeth,  for  I  desire  to  gratify  my  sight 
with  its  fairness." 

Khipil  abased  himself  before  Shahpesh,  and  answered, 
"  'T  is  even  here,  O  King  of  the  age,  where  thou  delightest 
the  earth  with  thy  foot  and  the  ear  of  thy  slave  with  sweet- 
ness. Surely  a  site  of  vantage,  one  that  dominateth  earth, 
air,  and  water,  which  is  the  builder's  first  and  chief  re- 
quisition for  a  noble  palace,  a  palace  to  fill  foreign  kings 
and  sultans  with  the  distraction  of  envy;  and  it  is,  0  Sov- 
ereign of  the  time,  a  site,  this  site  I  have  chosen,  to  oc- 
cupy the  tongues  of  travellers  and  awaken  the  flights  of 
poets ! " 

Shahpesh  smiled  and  said,  "The  site  is  good!  I  laud 
the  site !  Likewise  I  laud  the  wisdom  of  Ebn  Busrac, 
where  he  exclaims: 


94  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

*Be  sure,  where  Virtue  faileth  to  appear, 
For  her  a  gorgeous  mansion  men  will  rear; 
And  day  and  night  her  praises  will  be  heard, 
Where  never  yet  she  spake  a  single  word.' " 

Then  said  he,  "  0  Khipil,  my  builder,  there  was  once  a 
farm-servant  that,  having  neglected  in  the  seed-time  to 
sow,  took  to  singing  the  richness  of  his  soil  when  it  was 
harvest,  in  proof  of  which  he  displayed  the  abundance  of 
weeds  that  coloured  the  land  everywhere.  Discover  to  me 
now  the  completeness  of  my  halls  and  apartments,  I  pray 
thee,  O  Khipil,  and  be  the  excellence  of  thy  construction 
made  visible  to  me  !  " 

Quoth  Khipil,  "To  hear  is  to  obey." 

He  conducted  Shahpesh  among  the  unfinished  saloons 
and  imperfect  courts  and  roofless  rooms,  and  by  half- 
erected  obelisks,  and  columns  pierced  and  chipped,  of  the 
palace  of  his  building.  And  he  was  bewildered  at  the 
words  spoken  by  Shahpesh;  but  now  the  King  exalted 
him,  and  admired  the  perfection  of  his  craft,  the  greatness 
of  his  labour,  the  speediness  of  his  construction,  his  assi- 
duity ;  feigning  not  to  behold  his  negligence. 

Presently  they  went  up  winding  balusters  to  a  marble 
terrace,  and  the  King  said,  "  Such  is  thy  devotion  and  con- 
stancy in  toil,  0  Khipil,  that  thou  shalt  walk  before  me 
here/' 

He  then  commanded  Khipil  to  precede  him,  and  Khipil 
was  heightened  with  the  honour.  When  Khipil  had  pa- 
raded a  short  space  he  stopped  quickly,  and  said  to  Shah- 
pesh, "Here  is,  as  it  chanceth,  a  gap,  0  King!  and  we  can 
go  no  further  this  way." 

Shahpesh  said,  "  All  is  perfect,  and  it  is  my  will  thou 
delay  not  to  advance." 

Khipil  cried,  "The  gap  is  wide,  0  mighty  King,  and 
manifest,  and  it  is  an  incomplete  part  of  thy  palace." 

Then  said  Shahpesh,  "0  Khipil,  I  see  no  distinction 
between  one  part  and  another;  excellent  are  all  parts  in 
beauty  and  proportion,  and  there  can  be  no  part  incom- 
plete in  this  palace  that  occupieth  the  builder  four  years 
in  its  building:  so  advance,  do  my  bidding." 

Khipil  yet  hesitated,  for  the  gap  was  of  many  strides, 
and  at  the  bottom  of  the  gap  was  a  deep  water,  and  he  one 


THE   PUNISHMENT  OF  KKLPIL  95 

that  knew  not  the  motion  of  swimming.  But  Shahpesh 
ordered  his  guard  to  point  their  arrows  in  the  direction  of 
Khipil,  and  Khipil  stepped  forward  hurriedly,  and  fell  in 
the  gap,  and  was  swallowed  by  the  water  below.  When 
he  rose  the  second  time,  succour  reached  him,  and  he  was 
drawn  to  land  trembling,  his  teeth  chattering.  And  Shah- 
pesh praised  him,  and  said,  "This  is  an  apt  contrivance 
for  a  bath,  Khipil,  0  my  builder !  well  conceived;  one  that 
taketh  by  surprise;  and  it  shall  be  thy  reward  daily  when 
much  talking  hath  fatigued  thee." 

Then  he  bade  Khipil  lead  him  to  the  hall  of  state.  And 
when  they  were  there  Shahpesh  said,  "For  a  privilege, 
and  as  a  mark  of  my  approbation,  I  give  thee  permission 
to  sit  in  the  marble  chair  of  yonder  throne,  even  in  my 
presence,  0  Khipil." 

Khipil  said,  "Surely,  0  King,  the  chair  is  not  yet 
executed." 

And  Shahpesh  exclaimed,  "If  this  be  so,  thou  art  but 
the  length  of  thy  measure  on  the  ground,  O  talkative 
one ! " 

Khiptl  said,  "  Nay,  't  is  not  so,  0  King  of  splendours ! 
blind  that  I  am!  yonder 's  indeed  the  chair." 

And  Khipil  feared  the  King,  and  went  to  the  place 
where  the  chair  should  be,  and  bent  his  body  in  a  sitting 
posture,  eyeing  the  King,  and  made  pretence  to  sit  in  the 
chair  of  Shahpesh,  as  in  conspiracy  to  amuse  his  master. 

Then  said  Shahpesh,  "For  a  token  that  I  approve  thy 
execution  of  the  chair,  thou  shalt  be  honoured  by  remain- 
ing seated  in  it  up  to  the  hour  of  noon ;  but  move  thou  to 
the  right  or  to  the  left,  showing  thy  soul  insensible  of  the 
honour  done  thee,  transfixed  thou  shalt  be  with  twenty 
arrows  and  five." 

The  King  then  left  him  with  a  guard  of  twenty-five  of 
his  body-guard;  and  they  stood  around  him  with  bent 
bows,  so  that  Khipil  dared  not  move  from  his  sitting  pos- 
ture. And  the  masons  and  the  people  crowded  to  see 
Khipil  sitting  on  his  master's  chair,  for  it  became  ru- 
moured about.  When  they  beheld  him  sitting  upon  noth- 
ing, and  he  trembling  to  stir  for  fear  of  the  loosening  of 
the  arrows,  they  laughed  so  that  they  rolled  upon  the  floor 
of  the  hall,  and  the  echoes  of  laughter  were  a  thousand- 


96  THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

fold.  Surely  the  arrows  of  the  guards  swayed  with  the 
laughter  that  shook  them. 

Now,  when  the  time  had  expired  for  his  sitting  in  the 
chair,  Shahpesh  returned  to  him,  and  he  was  cramped, 
pitiable  to  see;  and  Shahpesh  said,  "Thou  hast  been  ex- 
alted above  men,  O  Khipil !  for  that  thou  didst  execute  for 
thy  master  has  been  found  fitting  for  thee." 

Then  he  bade  Khipil  lead  the  way  to  the  noble  gardens 
of  dalliance  and  pleasure  that  he  had  planted  and  con- 
trived. And  Khipil  went  in  that  state  described  by  the 
poet,  when  we  go  draggingly,  with  remonstrating  members, 

Knowing  a  dreadful  strength  behind, 
And  a  dark  fate  before. 

They  came  to  the  gardens,  and  behold,  these  were  full 
of  weeds  and  nettles,  the  fountains  dry,  no  tree  to  be  seen 
—  a  desert.  And  Shahpesh  cried,  "  This  is  indeed  of  ad- 
mirable design,  0  Khipil !  Feelest  thou  not  the  coolness 
of  the  fountains?  —  their  refreshingness?  Truly  I  am 
grateful  to  thee !  And  these  flowers,  pluck  me  now  a 
handful,  and  tell  me  of  their  perfume." 

Khipil  plucked  a  handful  of  the  nettles  that  were  there 
in  the  place  of  flowers,  and  put  his  nose  to  them  before 
Shahpesh,  till  his  nose  was  reddened;  and  desire  to  rub  it 
waxed  in  him,  and  possessed  him,  and  became  a  passion, 
so  that  he  could  scarce  refrain  from  rubbing  it  even  in  the 
King's  presence.  And  the  King  encouraged  him  to  sniff 
and  enjoy  their  fragrance,  repeating  the  poet's  words: 

Methinks  I  am  a  lover  and  a  child, 

A  little  child  and  happy  lover,  both ! 

When  by  the  breath  of  flowers  I  am  beguiled 

From  sense  of  pain,  and  lulled  in  odorous  sloth. 

So  I  adore  them,  that  no  mistress  sweet 

Seems  worthier  of  the  love  which  they  awake : 

In  innocence  and  beauty  more  complete, 

Was  never  maiden  cheek  in  morning  lake. 

Oh,  while  I  live,  surround  me  with  fresh  flowers ! 

Oh,  when  I  die,  then  bury  me  in  their  bowers ! 

And  the  King  said,  "What  sayest  thou,  O  my  builder? 
that  is  a  fair  quotation,  applicable  to  thy  feelings,  one 
Vhs».t  expresseth  them?" 


THE  PUNISHMENT   OF  KHJPIL  97 

Khipil  answered,  "'Tis  eloquent,  0  great  King!  com- 
prehensiveness would  be  its  portion,  but  that  it  alludeth 
not  to  the  delight  of  chafing." 

Then  Shahpesh  laughed,  and  cried,  "  Chafe  not !  it  is  an 
ill  thing  and  a  hideous !  This  nosegay,  O  Khipil,  it  is  for 
thee  to  present  to  thy  mistress.  Truly  she  will  receive 
thee  well  after  its  presentation !  I  will  have  it  now  sent 
in  thy  name,  with  word  that  thou  followest  quickly.  And 
for  thy  nettled  nose,  surely  if  the  whim  seize  thee  that 
thou  desirest  its  chafing,  to  thy  neighbour  is  permitted 
what  to  thy  hand  is  refused." 

The  King  set  a  guard  upon  Khipil  to  see  that  his  orders 
were  executed,  and  appointed  a  time  for  him  to  return  to 
the  gardens. 

At  the  hour  indicated  Khipil  stood  before  Shahpesh 
again.  He  was  pale,  saddened;  his  tongue  drooped  like 
the  tongue  of  a  heavy  bell,  that  when  it  soundeth  giveth 
forth  mournful  sounds  only:  he  had  also  the  look  of  one 
battered  with  many  beatings.  So  the  King  said,  "  How  of 
the  presentation  of  the  flowers  of  thy  culture,  O  Khipil?" 

He  answered,  "Surely,  O  King,  she  received  me  with 
wrath,  and  I  am  shamed  by  her." 

And  the  King  said,  "  How  of  my  clemency  in  the  mat- 
ter of  the  chafing?  " 

Khipil  answered,  "  0  King  of  splendours !  I  made  peti- 
tion to  my  neighbours  whom  I  met,  accosting  them  civilly 
and  with  imploring,  for  I  ached  to  chafe,  and  it  was  the 
very  raging  thirst  of  desire  to  chafe  that  was  mine,  de- 
vouring eagerness  for  solace  of  chafing.  And  they  chafed 
me,  O  King;  yet  not  in  those  parts  which  throbbed  for  the 
chafing,  but  in  those  which  abhorred  it." 

Then  Shahpesh  smiled  and  said,  "  'T  is  certain  that  the 
magnanimity  of  monarchs  is  as  the  rain  that  falleth.  the 
sun  that  shineth :  and  in  this  spot  it  f ertilizeth  richness ; 
in  that  encourageth  rankness.  So  art  thou  but  a  weed,  0 
Khipil!  and  my  grace  is  thy  chastisement." 

Now,  the  King  ceased  not  persecuting  Khipil,  under 
pretence  of  doing  him  honour  and  heaping  favours  on  him. 
Three  days  and  three  nights  was  Khipil  gasping  without 
water,  compelled  to  drink  of  the  drought  of  the  fountain, 
vt  an  honour  at  the  hands  of  the  King.  And  he  was  seven 


98  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAQPAT 

days  and  seven  nights  made  to  stand  with  stretched  arms, 
as  they  were  the  branches  of  a  tree,  in  each  hand  a  pome- 
granate. And  Shahpesh  brought  the  people  of  his  court 
to  regard  the  wondrous  pomegranate-shoot  planted  by 
Khipil,  very  wondrous,  and  a  new  sort,  worthy  the  gar- 
dens of  a  King.  So  the  wisdom  of  the  King  was  ap- 
plauded, and  men  wotted  he  knew  how  to  punish  offences 
in  coin,  by  the  punishment  inflicted  on  Khipil,  the  builder. 
Before  that  time  his  affairs  had  languished,  and  the  cur- 
rents of  business  instead  of  flowing  had  become  stagnant 
pools.  It  was  the  fashion  to  do  as  did  Khipil,  and  fancy 
the  tongue  a  constructor  rather  than  a  commentator ;  and 
there  is  a  doom  upon  that  people  and  that  man  which  run- 
neth to  seed  in  gabble,  as  the  poet  says  in  his  wisdom : 

If  thou  wooldst  be  famous,  and  rich  in  splendid  fruits, 
Leave  to  bloom  the  flower  of  things,  and  dig  among  the  root*. 

Truly  after  Khipil's  punishment  there  were  few  in  the 
dominions  of  Shahpesh  who  sought  to  win  the  honours 
bestowed  by  him  on  gabblers  and  idlers:  as  again  the 
poet: 

When  to  loquacious  fools  with  patience  rare 

I  listen,  I  have  thoughts  of  Khipil's  chair : 

His  bath,  his  nosegay,  and  his  fount  I  see,  — 

Himself  stretch'd  out  as  a  pomegranate-tree. 

And  that  I  am  not  Shahpeah  I  regret, 

So  to  inmesh  the  babbler  in  his  net. 

Well  is  that  wisdom  worthy  to  be  sunj*, 

Which  raised  the  Palace  of  the  Wagging  Tongue ! 

A.nd  whoso  is  punished  after  the  fashion  of  Shahpesh, 
the  Persian,  on  Khipil,  the  Builder,  is  said  to  be  one  "  in 
tte  Palace  of  the  Wagging  Tongue  "  to  this  time. 


THE  GENIE  KARAZ 

Now,  when  the  voice  of  the  Vizier  had  ceased,  Shibli  Bag* 
arag  exclaimed,  "0  Vizier,  this  night,  no  later,  I'll  sur- 
prise Shagpat,  and  shave  him  while  he  sleepeth:  and  he 
shall  wake  shorn  beside  his  spouse.  Wullahy !  I'll  delay 
no  longer,  I,  Shibli  Bagarag." 

Said  the  Vizier,  "Thou?  " 

And  he  replied,  "Surely,  0  Vizier!  thou  knowest  little 
of  my  dexterity." 

So  the  Vizier  laughed,  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka  laughed, 
and  he  was  at  a  loss  to  interpret  the  cause  of  their  laugh- 
ter. Then  said  Noorna,  "  0  my  betrothed,  there  Js  not  a 
doubt  among  us  of  thy  dexterity,  nor  question  of  thy  will* 
ingness;  but  this  shaving  of  Shagpat,  wullahy !  'tis  longer 
work  than  what  thou  makest  of  it." 

And  he  cried,  "How?  because  of  the  Chief  of  Identicals 
planted  by  thee  in  his  head?  " 

She  answered,  "Because  of  that;  but  'tis  the  smallest 
opposer,  that." 

Then  the  Vizier  said,  "Let  us  consult." 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  gave  ear,  and  the  Vizier  continued, 
"  There 's  first,  the  Chief  of  Identicals  planted  by  thee  in 
the  head  of  that  presumptuous  fellow,  0  my  daughter! 
By  what  means  shall  that  be  overcome?  " 

She  said,  "I  rank  not  that  first,  0  Feshnavat,  my  father; 
surely  I  rank  first  the  illusions  with  which  Kabesqurat 
hath  surrounded  him,  and  made  it  difficult  to  know  him 
from  his  semblances,  whenever  real  danger  threateneth 
him." 

The  Vizier  assented,  saying,  "Second,  then,  the  Chief 
of  Identicals?" 

She  answered,  "Nay,  0  my  father;  second,  the  weak- 
ness that 's  in  man,  and  the  little  probability  of  his  finish- 
ing with  Shagpat  at  one  effort;  and  there  is  but  a  sole 


100  THE  SHAVING  OF   8HAGPAT 

chance  for  whoso  attempteth,  and  if  he  faileth,  'tis  foi 
ever  he  faileth." 

So  the  Vizier  said,  "Even  I  knew  not  'twas  so  grave! 
Third,  then,  the  Chief  of  Identicals?" 

She  replied,  "Third!  which  showeth  the  difficulty  of 
the  task.  Bead  ye  not,  first,  how  the  barber  must  come 
upon  Shagpat  and  fix  him  for  his  operation;  second,  how 
the  barber  must  be  possessed  of  more  than  mortal  strength 
to  master  him  in  so  many  strokes;  third,  how  the  barber 
must  have  a  blade  like  no  other  blade  in  this  world  in 
sharpness,  in  temper,  in  velocity  of  sweep,  that  he  may 
reap  this  crop  which  flourisheth  on  Shagpat,  and  with  it 
the  magic  hair  which  defieth  edge  of  mortal  blades?" 

Now,  the  Vizier  sighed  at  the  words,  saying,  "Powerful 
is  Shagpat!  I  knew  not  the  thing  I  undertook.  I  fear 
his  mastery  of  us,  and  we  shall  be  contemned  —  objects 
for  the  red  finger  of  scorn." 

Noorna  turned  to  Shibli  Bagarag  and  asked,  "Do  the 
three  bonds  of  enterprise  —  vengeance,  ambition,  and  love 
—  shrink  in  thee  from  this  great  contest?  " 

Shibli  Bagarag  said,  "  'T  is  terrible!  on  my  head  be  it!  " 

She  gazed  at  him  a  moment  tenderly,  and  said,  "  Thou 
art  worthy  of  what  is  in  store  for  thee,  0  my  betrothed! 
and  I  think  little  of  the  dangers,  in  contemplation  of  the 
courage  in  thee.  Lo,  if  vengeance  and  ambition  spur  thee 
so,  how  will  not  love  when  added  to  the  two?  " 

Then  said  she,  "As  to  the  enchantments  and  spells  that 
shall  overreach  him,  and  as  to  the  blade  wherewith  to 
shear  him?" 

Feshnavat  exclaimed,  "  Yonder 's  indeed  where  we 
stumble  and  are  tripped  at  starting." 

But  she  cried,  "  What  if  I  know  of  a  sword  that  nought 
on  earth  or  under  resisteth,  and  before  the  keen  edge  of 
which  all  Illusions  and  Identicals  are  as  summer  grass  to 
the  scythe." 

They  both  shouted,  "The  whereabout  of  that  sword,  0 
Noorna!  " 

So  she  said,  "'Tis  in  Aklis,  in  the  mountains  of  the 
Koosh;  and  the  seven  sons  of  Aklis  sharpen  it  day  and 
night  till  the  adventurer  cometh  to  claim  it  for  his  occa- 
sion. Whoso  succeedeth  in  coming  to  them  they  know  to 


THE  GENIE  KAEAZ  101 

have  power  over  the  sword,  and  't  is  then  holiday  for  them. 
Many  are  the  impediments,  and  they  are  as  holes  where 
the  fox  haunteth.  So  they  deliver  to  his  hand  the  sword 
till  his  object  is  attained,  his  Event  mastered,  smitten 
through  with  it;  and  'tis  called  the  Sword  of  Events. 
Surely,  with  it  the  father  of  the  Seven  vanquished  the 
mighty  Roc,  Kroojis,  that  threatened  mankind  with  ruin, 
and  a  stain  of  the  Roc's  blood  is  yet  on  the  hilt  of  the 
sword.  How  sayest  thou,  0  Feshnavat,  — shall  we  devote 
ourselves  to  get  possession  of  that  Sword?  " 

So  the  Vizier  brightened  at  her  words,  and  said,  "O 
excellent  in  wisdom  and  star  of  counsel!  speak  further, 
and  as  to  the  means." 

Noorna  bin  Noorka  continued,  "Thou  knowest,  0  my 
father,  I  am  proficient  in  the  arts  of  magic,  and  I  am  what 
I  am,  and  what  I  shall  be,  by  its  uses.  'T  is  known  to 
thee  also  that  I  hold  a  Genie  in  bondage,  and  can  utter  ten 
spells  and  one  spell  in  a  breath.  Surely  my  services  to 
the  youth  in  his  attainment  of  the  Sword  will  be  beyond 
price !  Now  to  reach  Aklis  and  the  Sword  there  are  three 
things  needed  —  charms:  and  one  is  a  phial  full  of  the 
waters  of  Paravid  from  the  wells  in  the  mountain  yonside 
the  desert;  and  one,  certain  hairs  that  grow  in  the  tail  of 
the  horse  Garraveen,  he  that  roameth  wild  in  the  meadows 
of  Melistan;  and  one,  that  the  youth  gather  and  bear  to 
Aklis  for  the  white  antelope  Gulrevaz,  the  Lily  of  the 
Lovely  Light,  that  groweth  in  the  hollow  of  the  crags  over 
the  Enchanted  Sea:  with  these  spells  he  will  command  the 
Sword  of  Aklis,  and  nothing  can  bar  him  passage.  More- 
over I  will  expend  in  his  aid  all  my  subtleties,  my  trans- 
formations, the  stores  of  my  wisdom.  Many  seek  this 
Sword,  and  people  the  realms  of  Rabesqurat,  or  are  beasts 
in  Aklis,  or  crowned  Apes,  or  go  to  feed  the  Roc,  Kroojis, 
in  the  abyss  beneath  the  Roc's-egg  bridge ;  but  there  's 
virtue  in  Shibli  Bagarag :  wullahy !  I  am  wistful  in  him 
of  the  hand  of  Destiny,  and  he  will  succeed  in  this  under- 
taking if  he  dareth  it." 

Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  "  At  thy  bidding,  0  Noorna !  Care 
I  for  dangers?  I  'm  on  fire  to  wield  the  Sword,  and  mas- 
ter the  Event." 

Thereupon,  Noorna  bin  Noorka  arose  instantly,  and  took 


102  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAQPAT 

him  by  the  cheeks  a  tender  pinch,  and  praised  him.  Then 
drew  she  round  him  a  circle  with  her  forefinger  that  left  a 
mark  like  the  shimmering  of  evanescent  green  flame,  say- 
ing, "  White  was  the  day  I  set  eyes  on  thee  !  "  Round  the 
Vizier,  her  father,  she  drew  a  like  circle;  and  she  took  an 
unguent,  and  traced  with  it  characters  on  the  two  circles, 
and  letters  of  strange  form,  arrowy,  lance-like,  like  lean- 
ing sheaves,  and  crouching  baboons,  and  kicking  jackasses, 
and  cocks  a-crow,  and  lutes  slack-strung;  and  she  knelt 
and  mumbled  over  and  over  words  of  magic,  like  the  drone 
of  a  bee  to  hear,  and  as  a  roll  of  water,  nothing  distin- 
guishable. After  that  she  sought  for  an  unguent  of  a  red 
colour,  and  smeared  it  on  a  part  of  the  floor  by  the  corner 
of  the  room,  and  wrote  on  it  in  silver  fluid  a  word  that 
was  the  word  "Eblis,"  and  over  that  likewise  she  droned 
iwhile.  Presently  she  arose  with  a  white-heated  face,  the 
*weat  on  her  brow,  and  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag  and  Fesh- 
lavat  hurriedly  and  in  a  harsh  tone,  "How?  have  ye 


They  answered,  "Our  faith  is  in  Allah,  our  confidence 
in  tbee." 

Said  she  then,  "  I  summon  the  Genie  I  hold  in  bondage. 
He  will  be  wrathful;  but  ye  are  secure  from  him.  He  's 
this  moment  in  the  farthest  region  of  earth,  doing  ill,  as 
is  his  wont,  and  the  wont  of  the  stock  of  Eblis." 

So  the  Vizier  said.  "  He  '11  be  no  true  helper,  this 
Genie,  and  I  care  not  for  his  company." 

She  answered,  "0  my  father!  leave  thou  that  to  me. 
What  says  the  poet?  — 

'  It  is  the  aapiency  of  fools, 
To  shrink  from  handling  evil  tools.'  " 

Now,  while  she  was  speaking,  she  suddenly  inclined  her 
ear  as  to  a  distant  noise;  but  they  heard  nothing.  Then, 
after  again  listening,  she  cried  in  a  sharp  voice,  "Ho! 
muffle  your  mouths  with  both  hands,  and  stir  not  from  the 
ring  of  the  circles,  as  ye  value  life  and  its  blessings." 

So  they  did  as  she  bade  them,  and  watched  her  curi- 
ously. Lo  !  she  swathed  the  upper  and  lower  part  of  her 
face  in  linen,  leaving  the  lips  and  eyes  exposed;  and  she 
took  water  from  an  ewer,  and  sprinkled  it  on  her  head, 


THE  GENIE  KAKAZ  103 

and  on  her  arms  and  her  feet,  muttering  incantations. 
Then  she  listened  a  third  time,  and  stooped  to  the  floor, 
and  put  her  lips  to  it,  and  called  the  name,  "  Karaz !  " 
And  she  called  this  name  seven  times  loudly,  sneezing  be- 
tweenwhiles.  Then,  as  it  were  in  answer  to  her  summons, 
there  was  a  deep  growl  of  thunder,  and  the  palace  rocked, 
tottering;  and  the  air  became  smoky  and  full  of  curling 
vapours.  Presently  they  were  aware  of  the  cry  of  a  Cat, 
and  its  miaulings;  and  the  patch  of  red  unguent  on  the 
floor  parted  and  they  beheld  a  tawny  Cat  with  an  arched 
back.  So,  Noorna  bin  Noorka  frowned  fiercely  at  the  Cat, 
and  cried,  "  This  is  thy  shape,  0  Karaz ;  change !  for  it 
serves  not  the  purpose." 

The  Cat  changed,  and  was  a  Leopard  with  glowing  yel« 
low  eyes ,  crouched  for  the  spring.  So  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
stamped,  and  cried  again,  "This  is  thy  shape,  O  Karaz; 
change  !  for  it  serves  not  the  purpose." 

And  the  Leopard  changed,  and  was  a  Serpent  with  many 
folds,  sleek,  curled,  venomous,  hissing. 

Noorna  bin  Noorka  cried  in  wrath,  "  This  is  thy  shape, 

0  Karaz;  change !  or  thou  'It  be  no  other  till  Eblis  is  ac- 
cepted in  Paradise." 

And  the  Serpent  vanished.  Lo  !  in  its  place  a  Genie  of 
terrible  aspect,  black  as  a  solitary  tree  seared  by  light- 
ning; his  forehead  ridged  and  cloven  with  red  streaks;  his 
hair  and  ears  reddened;  his  eyes  like  two  hollow  pits  dug 
by  the  shepherd  for  the  wolf,  and  the  wolf  in  them.  He 
shouted,  "What  work  is  it  now,  thou  accursed  traitress?" 

Noorna  replied,  "I  've  need  of  thee!  " 

He  said,  "  What  shape?  " 

She  answered,  "  The  shape  of  an  Ass  that  will  carry  two 
on  its  back,  thou  Perversity  !  " 

Upon  that,  he  cried,  "  0  faithless  woman,  how  long  shall 

1  be  the  slave  of  thy  plotting?    Now,  but  for  that  hair  of 
my  head,  plucked  by  thy  hand  while  I  slept,  I  were  free, 
no  doer  of  thy  tasks.     Say,  who  be  these  that  mark  us?" 

She  answered,  "One,  the  Vizier  Feshnavat;  and  one, 
Shibli  Bagarag  of  Shiraz,  he  that 's  destined  to  shave 
Shagpat,  the  son  of  Shimpoor,  the  son  of  Shoolpi,  the 
son  of  Shullum;  and  the  youth  is  my  betrothed." 

Now,  at  her  words  the  whole  Genie  became  as  live  coal 


104  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

with  anger,  and  he  panted  black  and  bright,  and  made  a 
stride  toward  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  stretched  his  arm  out  to 
seize  him ;  but  Noorna  blew  quickly  on  the  circles  she  had 
drawn,  and  the  circles  rose  up  in  a  white  flame  high  as 
the  heads  of  those  present,  and  the  Genie  shrank  hastily 
back  from  the  flame,  and  was  seized  with  fits  of  sneezing. 
Then  she  said  in  scorn,  "Easily,  O  Karaz,  is  a  woman 
outwitted !  Surely  I  could  not  guess  what  would  be  thy 
action !  and  I  was  wanting  in  foresight  and  insight !  and 
I  am  a  woman  bearing  the  weight  of  my  power  as  a  wood- 
man staggereth  under  the  logs  he  hath  felled !  " 

So  she  taunted  him,  and  he  still  sneezing  and  bent 
double  with  the  might  of  the  sneeze.  Then  said  Noorna 
in  a  stern  voice,  "No  more  altercation  between  us!  Wait 
thou  here  till  I  re-appear,  0  Karaz  !  " 

Thereupon,  she  went  from  them;  and  the  two,  Fesh- 
navat  and  Shibli  Bagarag,  feared  greatly  being  left  with 
the  Genie,  for  he  became  all  colours,  and  loured  on  them 
each  time  that  he  ceased  sneezing.  He  was  clearly  men- 
acing them  when  Noorna  returned,  and  in  her  hand  a  sad- 
dle made  of  hide,  traced  over  with  mystic  characters  and 
gold  stripes. 

So  she  cried,  "Take  this!"  Then,  seeing  he  hesitated, 
she  unclosed  from  her  left  palm  a  powder,  and  scattered  it 
over  him;  and  he  grew  meek,  and  the  bending  knee  of 
obedience  was  his,  and  he  took  the  saddle.  So  she  said, 
"  'T  is  well !  Go  now,  and  wait  outside  the  city  in  the 
shape  of  an  Ass,  with  this  saddle  on  thy  back." 

The  Genie  groaned,  and  said,  "To  hear  is  to  obey!" 
And  he  departed  with  those  words,  for  she  held  him  in 
bondage.  Then  she  calmed  down  the  white  flames  of  the 
circles  that  enclosed  Shibli  Bagarag  and  the  Vizier  Fesh- 
navat,  and  they  stepped  forth,  marvelling  at  the  greatness 
of  her  sorceries  that  held  such  a  Genie  in  bondage. 


THE  WELL  OF  PARAVID 


Now,  there  was  haste  in  the  movements  of  Xoorna  bin 
Noorka,  and  she  arrayed  herself  and  clutched  Shibli  Bag- 
arag  by  the  arm,  and  the  twain  departed  from  Feshnavat 
the  Vizier,  and  came  to  the  outside  of  the  city,  and  lo! 
there  was  the  Genie  by  a  well  under  a  palm,  and  he  stand- 
ing in  the  shape  of  an  Ass,  saddled.  So  they  mounted 
him,  and  in  a  moment  they  were  in  the  midst  of  the  des- 
ert, and  nought  round  them  save  the  hot  glimmer  of  the 
sands  and  the  grey  of  the  sky.  Surely,  the  Ass  went  at 
such  a  pace  as  never  Ass  went  before  in  this  world,  rest- 
ing not  by  the  rivulets,  nor  under  the  palms,  nor  beside 
the  date-boughs;  it  was  as  if  the  Ass  scurried  without 
motion  of  his  legs,  so  swiftly  went  he.  At  last  the  desert 
gave  signs  of  a  border  on  the  low  line  of  the  distance,  and 
this  grew  rapidly  higher  as  they  advanced,  revealing  a 
country  of  hills  and  rocks,  and  at  the  base  of  these  the 
Ass  rested. 

So  Noorna  said,  "This  desert  that  we  have  passed,  0 
my  betrothed,  many  are  they  that  perish  in  it,  and  reach 
not  the  well;  but  give  thanks  to  Allah  that  it  is  passed." 

Then  said  she,  "Dismount,  and  be  wary  of  moving  to 
the  front  or  to  the  rear  of  this  Ass,  and  measure  thy  dis- 
tance from  the  lash  of  his  tail." 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  dismounted,  and  followed  her  up  the 
hills  and  the  rocks,  through  ravines  and  gorges  of  the 
rocks,  and  by  tumbling  torrents,  among  hanging  woods, 
over  perilous  precipices,  where  no  sun  hath  pierced,  and 
the  bones  of  travellers  whiten  in  loneliness;  and  they  con- 
tinued mounting  upward  by  winding  paths,  now  closed  in 
by  coverts,  now  upon  open  heights  having  great  views,  and 
presently  a  mountain  was  disclosed  to  them,  green  at  the 
sides  high  up  it;  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka  said  to  Shibli 
Bagarag,  "Mount  here,  for  the  cunning  of  this  Ass  can 


106  THE  SHAVING  OF  8HAGPAT 

furnish  him  no  excuse  further  for  making  thee  food  for 
the  birds  of  prey." 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  mounted,  and  they  ceased  not  to  as- 
cend the  green  slopes  till  the  grass  became  scanty  and 
darkness  fell,  and  they  were  in  a  region  of  snow  and  cold. 
Then  Noorna  bin  Noorka  tethered  the  Ass  to  a  stump  of 
a  tree  and  breathed  in  his  ear,  and  the  Ass  became  as  a 
creature  carved  in  stone;  and  she  drew  from  her  bosom 
two  bags  of  silk,  and  blew  in  one  and  entered  it,  bidding 
Shibli  Bagarag  do  likewise  with  the  other  bag;  and  he 
obeyed  her,  drawing  it  up  to  his  neck,  and  the  delightful- 
ness  of  warmth  came  over  him.  Then  said  she,  "To- 
morrow, at  noon,  we  shall  reach  near  the  summit  of  the 
mountain  and  the  Well  of  Paravid,  if  my  power  last  over 
this  Ass ;  and  from  that  time  thou  wilt  be  on  the  high  road 
to  greatness,  so  fail  not  to  remember  what  I  have  done  for 
thee,  and  be  not  guilty  of  ingratitude  when  thy  hand  is 
the  stronger." 

He  promised  her,  and  they  lay  and  slept.  When  he 
awoke  the  sun  was  half-risen,  and  he  looked  at  Noorna 
bin  Noorka  in  the  silken  bag,  and  she  was  yet  in  the 
peacefulness  of  pleasant  dreams;  but  for  the  Ass,  surely 
his  eyes  rolled,  and  his  head  and  fore  legs  were  endued 
with  life,  while  his  latter  half  seemed  of  stone.  And  the 
youth  called  to  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  and  pointed  to  her  the 
strangeness  of  the  condition  of  the  Ass.  As  she  cast  eyes 
on  him  she  cried  out,  and  rushed  to  him,  and  took  him  by 
the  ears  and  blew  up  his  nostrils,  and  the  animal  was 
quiet.  Then  she  and  Shibli  Bagarag  mounted  him  again, 
and  she  said  to  him,  "  It  is  well  thou  wert  more  vigilant 
than  I,  and  that  the  sun  rose  not  on  this  Ass  while  I  slept, 
or  my  enchantment  would  have  thawed  on  him,  and  he 
would  have  'scaped  us." 

She  gave  her  heel  to  the  Ass,  and  the  Ass  hung  his  tail 
in  sullenness  and  drooped  his  head;  and  she  laughed,  cry- 
ing, "0  Karaz,  silly  fellow!  do  thy  work  willingly,  and 
take  wisely  thine  outwitting." 

She  jeered  him  as  they  journeyed,  and  made  the  soul  of 
Shibli  Bagarag  merry,  so  that  he  jerked  in  his  seat  upon 
the  Ass.  Now,  as  they  ascended  the  mountain  they  came 
to  the  opening  of  a  cavern,  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka  halted 


THE  WELL   OF  PARA  VIZ)  107 

the  Ass,  and  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  "  We  part  here,  and  1 
wait  for  thee  in  this  place.  Take  this  phial,  and  fill  it 
with  the  waters  of  the  well,  after  thy  bath.  The  way  is 
before  thee  —  speed  on  it." 

He  climbed  the  sides  of  the  mountain,  and  was  soon 
hidden  in  the  clefts  and  beyond  the  perches  of  the  vul- 
ture. She  kept  her  eyes  on  the  rocky  point  when  he  dis- 
appeared, awaiting  his  return ;  and  the  sun  went  over  her 
head  and  sank  on  the  yonside  of  the  mountain,  and  it  was 
by  the  beams  of  the  moon  that  she  beheld  Shibli  Bagarag 
dropping  from  the  crags  and  ledges  of  rock,  sliding  and 
steadying  himself  downward  till  he  reached  her  with  the 
phial  in  his  hand,  filled;  and  he  was  radiant,  as  it  were 
divine  with  freshness,  so  that  Noorna,  before  she  spoke 
welcome  to  him,  was  lost  in  contemplating  the  warm  shine 
of  his  visage,  calling  to  mind  the  poet's  words: 

The  wealth  of  light  in  sun  and  mocm, 

All  nature's  wealth, 
Hath  mortal  beauty  for  a  boon 

When  match'd  with  health. 

Then  said  she,  "  0  Shibli  Bagarag,  't  is  achieved,  this 
first  of  thy  tasks;  for  mutely  on  the  fresh  red  of  thy 
mouth,  my  betrothed,  speaketh  the  honey  of  persuasive- 
ness, and  the  children  of  Aklis  will  not  resist  thee."  So 
she  took  the  phial  from  him  and  led  forth  the  Ass,  and 
the  twain  mounted  the  Ass  and  descended  the  slopes  of 
the  mountain  in  moonlight;  and  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  "Lo! 
I  have  marked  wonders,  and  lived  a  life  since  our  part- 
ing; and  this  well,  't  is  a  miracle  to  dip  in  it,  and  by  it  sit 
many  maidens  weeping  and  old  men  babbling,  and  youths 
that  were  idle  youths  striking  bubbles  from  the  surface  of 
the  water.  The  well  is  rounded  with  marble,  and  the  sky 
is  clear  in  it,  cool  in  it,  the  whole  earth  imaged  therein." 

Then  Noorna  said,  "  Hadst  thou  a  difficulty  in  obtaining 
the  waters  of  the  well?  " 

He  answered,  "Surely  all  was  made  smooth  for  me  by 
thy  aid.  Now  when  I  came  to  the  well  I  marked  not  them 
by  it,  but  plunged,  and  the  depth  of  that  well  seemed  to 
me  the  very  depth  of  the  earth  itself,  so  went  I  ever  down- 
ward; and  when  I  was  near  the  bottom  of  the  well  I  had 


108  THE  SHAVING   OP  8HAGPAT 

forgotten  life  above,  and  lo !  no  sooner  had  I  touched  the 
bottom  of  the  well  when  my  head  emerged  from  the  sur- 
face: 'twas  wondrous!  But  for  a  sign  that  I  touched  the 
bottom  of  the  well,  see,  0  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  the  Jewel, 
the  one  of  myriads  that  glitter  at  the  bottom,  and  I  plucked 
it  for  a  gift  to  thee." 

So  Noorna  took  the  Jewel  from  his  hand  that  was  torn 
and  crimson,  and  she  cried,  "  Thou  fair  youth,  thou  bleed- 
est  with  the  plucking  of  it,  and  it  was  written,  no  hand 
shall  pluck  a  jewel  at  the  bottom  of  that  well  without  let- 
ting of  blood.  Even  so  is  it !  Worthy  art  thou,  and  I  was 
not  mistaken  in  thee." 

At  her  words  Shibli  Bagarag  burst  forth  into  praises  of 
her,  and  he  sang : 

*  What  is  my  worthiness 

Match'd  with  thy  worth  ? 
Darkness  and  earthiuess, 
Dust  and  dearth ! 

0  Noorna,  thou  art  wise  above  women :  great  and  glorious 
over  them." 

In  this  fashion  the  youth  lauded  her  that  was  his  be- 
trothed, but  she  exclaimed,  "  Hush  !  or  the  jealousy  of  this 
Ass  will  be  aroused,  and  of  a  surety  he  '11  spill  us." 

Then  he  laughed  and  she  laughed  till  the  tail  of  Earaz 
trembled. 


THE  HORSE  GARRAVEEN 

Now,  they  descended  leisurely  the  slopes  of  the  mountaia, 
and  when  they  were  again  in  the  green  of  its  base,  Noorna 
called  to  the  Ass,  "  Ho !  Karaz !  sniff  now  the  breezes,  for 
the  end  of  our  journey  by  night  is  the  meadows  of  Melis- 
tan.  Forward  in  thy  might,  and  bray  not  when  we  are  in 
them,  for  thy  comfort's  sake!  " 

The  Ass  sniffed,  turning  to  the  four  quarters,  and  chose 
a  certain  direction,  and  bore  them  swiftly  over  hills  and 
streams  eddying  in  silver;  over  huge  mounds  of  sand, 
where  the  tents  of  Bedouins  stood  in  white  clusters ;  over 
lakes  smooth  as  the  cheeks  of  sleeping  loveliness ;  by  walls 
of  cities,  mosques,  and  palaces ;  under  towers  that  rose  as 
an  armed  man  with  the  steel  on  his  brows  and  the  frown 
of  battle ;  by  shores  of  the  pale  foaming  sea  it  bore  them, 
going  at  a  pace  that  the  Arab  on  his  steed  outstrippeth 
not.  So  when  the  sun  was  red  and  the  dews  were  blush- 
ing with  new  light,  they  struggled  from  a  wilderness  of 
barren  broken  ground,  and  saw  beneath  them,  in  the  warm 
beams,  green,  peaceful,  deep,  the  meadows  of  Melistan. 
They  were  meadows  dancing  with  flowers,  as  it  had  been 
fresh  damsels  of  the  mountain,  fair  with  variety  of  colours 
that  were  so  many  gleams  of  changing  light  as  the  breezes 
of  the  morn  swept  over  them;  lavish  of  hues,  of  sweet- 
ness, of  pleasantness,  fit  garden  for  the  souls  of  the  blest. 

Then,  after  they  had  gazed  awhile,  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
said,  "  In  these  meadows  the  Horse  Garraveen  roameth  at 
will.  Heroes  of  bliss  bestride  him  on  great  days.  He  is 
black  to  look  on ;  speed  quivers  in  his  flanks  like  the  light- 
ning; his  nostrils  are  wide  with  flame;  there  is  that  in  his 
eye  which  is  settled  fire,  and  that  in  his  hooves  which  is 
ready  thunder;  when  he  paws  the  earth  kingdoms  quake: 
no  animal  liveth  with  blood  like  the  Horse  Garraveen. 


110  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

He  is  under  a  curse,  for  that  he  bore  on  his  back  one  who 
defied  the  Prophet.  Now,  to  make  him  come  to  thee  thou 
must  blow  the  call  of  battle,  and  to  catch  him  thou  must 
contrive  to  strike  him  on  the  fetlock  as  he  runs  with  this 
musk-ball  which  I  give  thee ;  and  to  tame  him  thou  must 
trace  between  his  eyes  a  figure  of  the  crescent  with  thy 
forenail.  When  that  is  done,  bring  him  to  me  here,  where 
I  await  thee,  and  I  will  advise  thee  further." 

So  she  said,  "  Go  ! "  and  Shibli  Bagarag  showed  her  the 
breadth  of  his  shoulders,  and  stepped  briskly  toward  the 
meadows,  and  was  soon  brushing  among  the  flowers  and 
soft  mosses  of  the  meadows,  lifting  his  nostrils  to  the  joy- 
ful smells,  looking  about  him  with  the  broad  eye  of  one 
that  hungereth  for  a  coming  thing.  The  birds  went  up 
above  him,  and  the  trees  shook  and  sparkled,  and  the 
waters  of  brooks  and  broad  rivers  flashed  like  waving  mir- 
rors waved  by  the  slave-girls  in  sport  when  the  beauties  of 
the  harem  riot  and  dip  their  gleaming  shoulders  in  the 
bath.  He  wandered  on,  lost  in  the  gladness  that  lived, 
till  the  loud  neigh  of  a  steed  startled  him,  and  by  the 
banks  of  a  river  before  him  he  beheld  the  Horse  Garra- 
veen  stooping  to  drink  of  the  river;  glorious  was  the  look 
of  the  creature,  —  silver-hoofed,  fashioned  in  the  curves  of 
beauty  and  swiftness.  So  Shibli  Bagarag  put  up  his  two 
hands  and  blew  the  call  of  battle,  and  the  Horse  Garraveen 
arched  his  neck  at  the  call,  and  swung  upon  his  haunches, 
and  sought  the  call,  answering  it,  and  tossing  his  mane  as 
he  advanced  swiftly.  Then,  as  he  neared,  Shibli  Bagarag 
held  the  musk-ball  in  his  fingers,  and  aimed  at  the  fetlock 
of  the  Horse  Garraveen,  and  flung  it,  and  struck  him  so 
that  he  stumbled  and  fell.  He  snorted  fiercely  as  he  bent 
to  the  grass,  but  Shibli  Bagarag  ran  to  him,  and  grasped 
strongly  the  tuft  of  hair  hanging  forward  between  his  ears, 
and  traced  between  his  fine  eyes  a  figure  of  the  crescent 
with  his  forenail,  and  the  Hv vse  ceased  plunging,  and  was 
gentle  as  a  colt  by  its  mother's  side,  and  suffered  Shibli 
Bagarag  to  bestride  him,  and  spurn  him  with  his  heel  to 
speed,  and  bore  him  fleetly  across  the  fair  length  of  the 
golden  meadows  to  where  Noorna  bin  Noorka  sat  await- 
ing him.  She  uttered  a  cry  of  welcome,  saying,  "This  if 
achieved  with  diligence  and  skill,  0  my  betrothed  1  and 


THE  HORSE  GARB  A  VEEN  111 

on  thy  right  wrist  I  mark  strength  like  a  sleeping  leopard, 
and  the  children  of  Aklis  will  not  resist  thee." 

So  she  bade  him  alight  from  the  Horse,  but  he  said, 
"Nay."  And  she  called  to  him  again  to  alight,  but  he 
cried,  "  I  will  not  alight  from  him !  By  Allah !  such  a 
bounding  wave  of  bliss  have  I  never  yet  had  beneath  me, 
and  I  will  give  him  rein  once  again ;  as  the  poet  says : 

*  Divinelr  rings  the  rushing  air 
When  t  am  on  my  mettled  mare : 
When  fast  along  the  plains  we  fly, 
A  creature  of  the  heavens  am  I.' " 

Then  she  levelled  her  brows  at  him,  and  said  gravely, 
"This  is  the  temptation  thou  art  falling  into,  as  have 
thousands  before  thy  time.  Give  him  the  rein  a  second 
time,  and  he  will  bear  thee  to  the  red  pit,  and  halt  upon 
the  brink,  and  pitch  thee  into  it  among  bleeding  masses 
and  skeletons  of  thy  kind,  where  they  lie  who  were 
men  like  to  thee,  and  were  borne  away  by  the  Horse 
Garraveen." 

He  gave  no  heed  to  her  words,  taunting  her,  and  making 
the  animal  prance  up  and  prove  its  spirit. 

And  she  cried  reproachfully,  "  0  fool !  is  it  thus  our 
great  aim  will  be  defeated  by  thy  silly  conceit?  Lo,  now, 
the  greatness  and  the  happiness  thou  art  losing  for  this 
idle  vanity  is  to  be  as  a  dunghill  cock  matched  with  an 
ostrich;  and  think  not  to  escape  the  calamities  thou  bring- 
est  on  thyself,  for  as  is  said, 

'No  runner  can  outstrip  his  fate ;' 

and  it  will  overtake  thee,  though  thou  part  like  an  arrow 
from  the  bow." 

He  still  made  a  jest  of  her  remonstrance,  trying  the 
temper  of  the  animal,  and  rejoicing  in  its  dark  flushes  of 
ireful  vigour. 

And  she  cried  out  furiously,  "  How !  art  thou  past  coun- 
sel? then  will  we  match  strength  with  strength  ere  't  is 
too  late,  though  it  weaken  both." 

Upon  that,  she  turned  quickly  to  the  Ass  and  stroked  it 
from  one  extremity  to  the  other,  crying,  "  Karaz !  Karaz  ! " 
shouting,  "Come  forth  in  thy  power!"  And  the  Ass  va&- 


112  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

ished,  and  the  Genie  stood  in  his  place,  tall,  dark,  terrible 
as  a  pillar  of  storm  to  travellers  ranging  the  desert.  He 
exclaimed,  "What  is  it,  0  woman?  Charge  me  with  thy 
command ! " 

And  she  said,  "Wrestle  with  him  thou  seest  on  the 
Horse  Garraveen,  and  fling  him  from  his  seat." 

Then  he  yelled  a  glad  yell,  and  stooped  to  Shibli  Bag- 
arag  on  the  horse  and  enveloped  him,  and  seized  him,  and 
plucked  him  from  the  Horse,  and  whirled  him  round,  and 
flung  him  off.  The  youth  went  circling  in  the  air,  high 
in  it,  and  descended,  circling,  at  a  distance  in  the  deep 
meadow -waters.  When  he  crept  up  the  banks  he  saw  the 
Genie  astride  the  Horse  Garraveen,  with  a  black  flame 
round  his  head;  and  the  Genie  urged  him  to  speed  and 
put  him  to  the  gallop,  and  was  soon  lost  to  sight,  as  he 
had  been  a  thunderbeam  passing  over  a  still  lake  at  mid- 
night. And  Shibli  Bagarag  was  smitten  with  the  wrong 
and  the  folly  of  his  act,  and  sought  to  hide  his  sight  from 
Noorna;  but  she  called  to  him,  "Look  up,  0  youth!  and 
face  the  calamity.  Lo,  we  have  now  lost  the  service  of 
Karaz!  for  though  I  utter  ten  spells  and  one  spell  in  a 
breath,  the  Horse  Garraveen  will  ere  that  have  stretched 
beyond  the  circle  of  my  magic,  and  the  Genie  will  be  free 
to  do  his  ill  deeds  and  plot  against  us.  Sad  is  it!  but 
profit  thou  by  a  knowledge  of  thy  weakness." 

Then  said  she,  "  See,  I  have  not  failed  to  possess  myself 
of  the  three  hairs  of  Garraveen,  and  there  is  that  to  re- 
joice in." 

She  displayed  them,  and  they  were  sapphire  hairs,  and 
had  a  flickering  light;  and  they  seemed  to  live,  wriggling 
their  lengths,  and  were  as  snakes  with  sapphire  skins. 
Then  she  said,  "Thy  right  wrist,  0  my  betrothed!" 

He  gave  her  his  right  wrist,  and  she  tied  round  it  the 
three  hairs  of  Garraveen,  exclaiming,  "Thus  do  skilful 
carpenters  make  stronger  what  has  broken  and  indicated 
disaster.  Surely,  I  confide  in  thy  star?  I  have  faith  in 
my  foresight?  " 

And  she  cried,  "Eyes  of  mine,  what  sayest  thou  to  me? 
Lo,  we  must  part  awhile:  it  is  written." 

Said  he,  "Leave  me  not,  my  betrothed:  what  am  I  with- 
out thy  counsel?  And  go  not  from  me,  or  this  adventure 
come  to  miserable  issue*" 


THE  HORSE  GARRAVEEN  113 

So  she  said,  "  Thou  beginnest  to  feel  my  worth?  n 

He  answered,  "0  Noorna!  was  woman  like  thee  before 
in  this  world?  Surely  'tis  a  mask  I  mark  thee  under; 
yet  art  thou  perforce  of  sheer  wisdom  and  sweet  manners 
lovely  in  my  sight;  and  I  have  a  thirst  to  hear  thee  and 
look  on  thee." 

While  he  spake,  a  beam  of  struggling  splendour  burst 
from  her,  and  she  said,  "0  thou  dear  youth,  yes!  I  must 
even  go.  But  I  go  glad  of  heart,  knowing  thee  prepared 
to  love  me.  I  must  go  to  counteract  the  machinations  of 
Karaz,  for  he 's  at  once  busy,  vindictive,  and  cunning,  and 
there  's  no  time  for  us  to  lose;  so  farewell,  my  betrothed, 
and  make  thy  wits  keen  to  know  me  when  we  next  meet." 

So  he  said,  "  And  I  —  whither  go  I?  " 

She  answered,  "To  the  City  of  Oolb  straightway." 

Then  he,  "  But  I  know  not  its  bearing  from  this  spot : 
how  reach  it?  " 

She  answered,  "  What !  thou  with  the  phial  of  Paravid 
in  thy  vest,  that  endoweth,  a  single  drop  of  it,  the  flowers, 
the  herbage,  the  very  stones  and  desert  sands,  with  a 
tongue  to  articulate  intelligible  talk?" 

Said  he,  "Is  it  so?" 

She  answered,  "Even  so." 

Ere  Shibli  Bagarag  could  question  her  further  she  em- 
braced him,  and  blew  upon  his  eyes,  and  he  was  blinded 
by  her  breath,  and  saw  not  her  departure,  groping  for  a 
seat  on  the  rocks,  and  thinking  her  still  by  him.  Sight 
returned  not  to  him  till  long  after  weariness  had  brought 
the  balm  of  sleep  upon  his  eyelids. 


THE  TALKING  HAWK 

Now,  when  he  awoke  he  found  himself  alone  in  that  place, 
the  moon  shining  over  the  low  meadows  and  flower-cups 
fair  with  nightdew.  Odours  of  night-flowers  were  abroad, 
filling  the  cool  air  with  deliciousness,  and  he  heard  in  the 
gardens  below  songs  of  the  bulbul:  it  was  like  a  dream 
to  his  soul,  and  he  lay  somewhile  contemplating  the  rich 
loveliness  of  the  scene,  that  showed  no  moving  thing. 
Then  rose  he  and  bethought  him  of  the  words  of  Noorna, 
and  of  the  City  of  Oolb,  and  the  phial  of  the  waters  of 
Paravid  in  his  vest;  and  he  drew  it  forth,  and  dropped  a 
drop  of  it  on  the  rock  where  he  had  reclined.  A  deep 
harmony  seemed  suddenly  to  awake  inside  the  rock,  and 
to  his  interrogation  as  to  the  direction  of  Oolb,  he  heard, 
"The  path  of  the  shadows  of  the  moon." 

Thereupon  he  advanced  to  a  prominent  part  of  the  rocks 
above  the  meadows,  and  beheld  the  shadows  of  the  moon 
thrown  forward  into  dimness  across  a  waste  of  sand.  And 
he  stepped  downward  to  the  level  of  sand,  and  went  the 
way  of  the  shadows  till  it  was  dawn.  Then  dropped  he  a 
drop  of  the  waters  of  the  phial  on  a  spike  of  lavender,  and 
there  was  a  voice  said  to  him  in  reply  to  what  he  ques- 
tioned, "The  path  of  the  shadows  of  the  sun." 

The  shadows  of  the  sun  were  thrown  forward  across  the 
same  waste  of  sand,  and  he  turned  and  pursued  his  way, 
resting  at  noon  beneath  a  date-tree,  and  refreshing  himself 
at  a  clear  spring  beside  it.  Surely  he  was  joyful  as  he 
went,  and  elated  with  high  prospects,  singing: 

Snn  and  moon  with  their  bright  fingers 

Point  the  hero  s  path  ; 
If  in  his  great  work  he  lingers, 

Well  may  they  be  wroth. 

Now,  the  extent  of  the  duration  of  his  travel  was  four 
days  and  an  equal  number  of  nights;  and  it  was  on  the 


THE  TALKING  HAWK  115 

fifth  morn  that  he  entered  the  gates  of  a  city  by  the  sea, 
even  at  that  hour  when  the  inhabitants  were  rising  from 
sleep:  fair  was  the  sea  beyond  it,  and  the  harbour  was 
crowded  with  vessels,  ships  stored  with  merchandise  — 
silks,  dates,  diamonds,  Damascus  steel,  huge  bales  piled 
on  the  decks  for  the  land  of  Roum  and  other  lands.  Shibli 
Bagarag  thought,  "  There  's  scarce  a  doubt  but  that  one  of 
those  sails  will  set  for  Oolb  shortly.  Wullahy !  if  I  knew 
which,  I  'd  board  her  and  win  a  berth  in  her."  Presently 
he  thought,  "  I  '11  go  to  the  public  fountain  and  question  it 
with  the  speech-winning  waters."  Thereupon  he  passed 
down  the  streets  of  the  city  and  came  to  an  open  space, 
where  stood  the  fountain,  and  sprinkled  it  with  Paravid; 
and  the  fountain  spake,  saying,  "  Where  men  are,  question 
not  dumb  things." 

Cried  he,  "Faileth  Paravid  in  its  power?  Have  I  done 
ought  to  baffle  myself?  " 

Then  he  thought,  "'Twere  nevertheless  well  to  do  as 
the  fountain  directeth,  and  question  men  while  I  see  them." 
And  he  walked  about  among  the  people,  and  came  to  the 
quays  of  the  harbour  where  the  ships  lay  close  in,  many 
of  them  an  easy  leap  from  shore,  and  considered  whom  to 
address.  So,  as  he  loitered  ahput  the  quays,  meditating 
on  the  means  at  the  disposal  of  the  All- Wise,  and  marking 
the  vessels  wistfully,  behold,  there  advanced  to  him  one 
at  a  quick  pace,  in  the  garb  of  a  sailor.  He  observed 
Shibli  Bagarag  attentively  a  moment,  and  exclaimed  as  it 
were  in  the  plenitude  of  respect  and  with  the  manner  of 
one  that  is  abashed,  "Surely,  thou  art  Shibli  Bagarag,  the 
nephew  of  the  barber,  him  we  watch  for." 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  marvelled  at  this  recognition,  and 
answered,  "  Am  I  then  already  famous  to  that  extent?  " 

And  he  that  accosted  him  said,  "  'T  is  certain  the  trum- 
pet was  blown  before  thy  steps,  and  there  is  not  a  man  in 
this  city  but  knoweth  of  thy  destination  to  the  City  of 
Oolb,  and  that  thou  art  upon  the  track  of  great  things, 
one  chosen  to  bring  about  imminent  changes." 

Then  said  Shibli  Bagarag,  "For  this  I  praise  SToorna 
bin  Noorka,  daughter  of  Feshnavat,  Vizier  of  the  King 
that  ruleth  in  the  city  of  Shagpat !  She  saw  me,  that  I 
was  marked  for  greatness.  Wullahy,  the  eagle  knoweth 


116  THE   SHAVING   OP   SHAGPAT 

me  from  afar,  and  proclaimeth  me;  the  antelope  of  the 
hills  scenteth  the  coming  of  one  not  as  other  men,  and 
telleth  his  tidings;  the  wind  of  the  desert  shapeth  its  gust 
to  a  meaning,  so  that  the  stranger  may  wot  Shibli  Bagarag 
is  at  hand !  " 

He  puffed  his  chest,  and  straightened  his  legs  like  the 
cock,  and  was  as  a  man  upon  whom  the  Sultan  has  be- 
stowed a  dress  of  honour,  even  as  the  plumed  peacock. 
Then  the  other  said: 

"  Know  that  I  am  captain  of  yonder  vessel,  that  stands 
farthest  out  from  the  harbour  with  her  sails  slackened; 
and  she  is  laden  with  figs  and  fruits  which  I  exchange  for 
silks,  spices,  and  other  merchandise,  with  the  people  of 
Colb.  Now,  what  says  the  poet?  — 

'  Delay  in  thine  undertaking 
Is  disaster  of  thy  own  making ; ' 

and  he  says  also : 

'  Greatness  is  solely  for  them  that  succeed ; 
'T  is  a  rotten  applause  that  gives  earlier  meed.' 

Therefore  it  is  advisable  for  thee  to  follow  me  on  board 
without  loss  of  time,  and  we  will  sail  this  very  night  for 
the  City  of  Oolb."  „ 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  was  ruled  by  the  words  of  the  cap- 
tain albeit  he  desired  to  stay  awhile  and  receive  the  hom- 
age of  the  people  of  that  city.  So  he  followed  him  into  a 
boat  that  was  by,  and  the  twain  were  rowed  by  sailors  to 
the  ship.  Then,  when  they  were  aboard  the  captain  set 
sail,  and  they  were  soon  in  the  hollows  of  deep  waters. 
There  was  a  berth  in  the  ship  set  apart  for  Shibli  Bagarag, 
and  one  for  the  captain.  Shibli  Bagarag,  when  he  entered 
his  berth,  beheld  at  the  head  of  his  couch  a  hawk;  its  eyes 
red  as  rubies,  its  beak  sharp  as  the  curve  of  a  scimitar. 
So  he  called  out  to  the  captain,  and  the  captain  came  to 
him;  but  when  he  saw  the  hawk,  he  plucked  his  turban 
from  his  head,  and  dashed  ;t  at  the  hawk,  and  afterwards 
ran  to  it,  trying  to  catch  it;  and  the  hawk  flitted  from 
corner  to  corner  of  the  berth,  he  after  it  with  open  arms. 
Then  he  took  a  sword,  but  the  hawk  flew  past  him,  ant? 
fixed  on  the  back  part  of  his  head,  tearing  up  his  hair  by 
the  talons,  and  pecking  over  his  forehead  at  Ms  eyes. 


THE  TALKING  HAWK  117 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  heard  the  hawk  scream  the  name 
"Karaz,"  and  he  looked  closely  at  the  captain  of  the  ves- 
sel, and  knew  him  for  the  Genie  Karaz.  Then  trembled 
he  with  exceeding  terror,  cursing  his  credulities,  for  he 
saw  himself  in  the  hands  of  the  Genie,  and  nothing  but 
this  hawk  friendly  to  him  on  the  fearful  waters.  When 
the  hawk  had  torn  up  a  certain  hair,  the  Genie  stiffened, 
and  glowed  like  copper  in  the  furnace,  the  whole  length  of 
him ;  and  he  descended  heavily  through  the  bottom  of  the 
ship,  and  sank  into  the  waters  beneath,  which  hissed  and 
smoked  as  at  a  bar  of  heated  iron.  Then  Shibli  Bagarag 
gave  thanks  to  the  Prophet,  and  praised  the  hawk,  but  the 
hawk  darted  out  of  the  cabin,  and  he  followed  it  on  deck, 
and,  lo  !  the  vessel  was  in  flames,  and  the  hawk  in  a  circle 
of  the  flames ;  and  the  flames  soared  with  it,  and  left  it  no 
outlet.  Now,  as  Shibli  Bagarag  watched  the  hawk,  the 
flames  stretched  out  towards  him  and  took  hold  of  his 
vestments.  So  he  delayed  not  to  commend  his  soul  to  the 
All-merciful,  and  bore  witness  to  his  faith,  and  plunged 
into  the  sea  headlong.  When  he  rose,  the  ship  had  van- 
ished, and  all  was  darkness  where  it  had  been ;  so  he  buf- 
feted with  the  billows,  thinking  his  last  hour  had  come, 
and  there  was  no  help  for  him  in  this  world ;  and  the  spray 
shaken  from  the  billows  blinded  him,  the  great  walls  of 
water  crumbled  over  him;  strength  failed  him,  and  his 
memory  ceased  to  picture  images  of  the  old  time  —  his 
heart  to  beat  with  ambition;  and  to  keep  the  weight  of 
his  head  above  the  surface  was  becoming  a  thing  worth 
the  ransom  of  kings.  As  he  was  sinking  and  turning  his 
eyes  upward,  he  heard  a  flutter  as  of  fledgling's  wings, 
and  the  two  red  ruby  eyes  of  the  hawk  were  visible  above 
him,  like  steady  tires  in  the  gloom.  And  the  hawk  perched 
on  him,  and  buried  itself  among  the  wet  hairs  of  his  head, 
and  presently  taking  the  Identical  in  its  beak,  the  hawk 
lifted  him  half  out  of  water,  and  bore  him  a  distance,  and 
dropped  him.  This  the  hawk  did  many  times,  and  at  the 
last,  Shibli  Bagarag  felt  land  beneath  him,  and  could  wade 
through  the  surges  to  the  shore.  He  gave  thanks  to  the 
Supreme  Disposer,  kneeling  prostrate  on  the  shore,  and 
fell  into  a  sleep  deep  in  peacefulness  as  a  fathomless  well, 
unruffled  by  a  breath. 


118  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

Now,  when  it  was  dawn  Shibli  Bagarag  awoke  and 
looked  inland,  and  saw  plainly  the  minarets  of  a  city  shin- 
ing in  the  first  beams,  and  the  front  of  yellow  mountains, 
and  people  moving  about  the  walls  and  on  the  towers  and 
among  the  pastures  round  the  city;  so  he  made  toward 
them,  and  inquired  of  them  the  name  of  their  city.  And 
they  stared  at  him,  crying,  "What!  know'st  thou  not  the 
City  of  Oolb?  the  hawk  on  thy  shoulder  could  tell  thee 
that  much."  He  looked  and  saw  that  the  hawk  was  on 
his  shoulder;  and  its  left  wing  was  scorched,  the  plumage 
blackened.  So  he  said  to  the  hawk,  "Is  it  profitable,  0 
preserving  bird,  to  ask  of  thee  questions?" 

The  hawk  shook  its  wings  and  closed  an  eye. 

So  he  said,  "Do  I  well  in  entering  this  city? " 

The  hawk  shook  its  wings  again  and  closed  an  eye. 

So  he  said,  "  To  what  house  shall  I  direct  my  steps  in 
this  strange  city  for  the  attainment  of  the  purpose  I 
have?  " 

The  hawk  flew,  and  soared,  and  alighted  on  the  topmost 
of  the  towers  of  Oolb.  So  when  it  returned  he  said,  "  0 
bird!  rare  bird!  my  counsellor!  it  is  an  indication,  this 
alighting  on  the  highest  tower,  that  thou  advisest  me  to 
go  straight  to  the  palace  of  the  King?" 

The  hawk  flapped  its  wings  and  winked  both  eyes;  so 
Shibli  Bagarag  took  forth  the  phial  from  his  breast,  re- 
membering the  virtues  of  the  waters  of  the  Well  of  Para- 
vid,  and  touched  his  lips  with  them,  that  he  might  be 
endowed  with  flowing  speech  before  the  King  of  Oolb. 
As  he  did  this  the  phial  was  open,  and  the  hawk  leaned 
to  it  and  dipped  its  beak  into  the  water ;  and  he  entered 
the  city  and  passed  through  the  long  streets  towards  the 
palace  of  the  King,  and  craved  audience  of  him  as  one 
that  had  a  thing  marvellous  to  tell.  So  the  King  com- 
manded that  Shibli  Bagarag  should  be  brought  before  him, 
for  he  was  a  lover  of  marvels.  As  he  went  into  the  pres- 
ence of  the  King,  Shibli  Bagarag  listened  to  the  hawk,  for 
the  hawk  spake  his  language,  and  it  said,  "Proclaim  to 
the  King  a  new  wonder  —  'the  talking  hawk.'' 

So  when  he  had  bent  his  body  to  the  King,  he  pro- 
claimed the  new  wonder;  and  the  King  seemed  not  to  ob- 
serve the  hawk,  and  said,  "From  what  city  art  thou?  " 


THE  TALKING  HAWK  119 

He  answered,  "Native,  0  King,  to  Sbiraz;  newly  from 
the  City  of  Shagpat." 

And  the  King  asked,  "How  is  it  with  that  hairy 
wonder?  " 

He  answered,  "The  dark  forest  flourisheth  about  him." 

And  the  King  said,  "  That  is  well !  We  of  the  City  of 
Oolb  take  our  fashions  from  them  of  the  City  of  Shagpat, 
and  it  is  but  yesterday  that  I  bastinadoed  a  barber  that 
strayed  among  us." 

Shibli  Bagarag  sighed  when  he  heard  the  King,  and 
thought  to  himself,  "  How  unfortunate  is  the  race  of  bar- 
bers, once  honourable  and  in  esteem !  Surely  it  will-  not 
be  otherwise  till  Shagpat  is  shaved !  "  And  the  King 
called  out  to  him  for  the  cause  of  his  sighing;  so  he  said, 
"I  sigh,  0  King  of  the  age,  considering  how  like  may  be 
the  case  of  the  barber  bastinadoed  but  yesterday,  in  his 
worth  and  value,  to  that  of  Eoomdroom,  the  reader  of 
planets,  that  was  a  barber." 

And  he  related  the  story  of  Roomdroom  for  the  edifica- 
tion of  the  King,  and  the  exaltation  of  barbercraft,  deliver- 
ing himself  neatly  and  winningly  and  pointedly,  so  that  the 
story  should  apply,  which  was  its  merit  and  its  origin. 


GOORELKA  OF  OOLB 

WHEN  Shibli  Bagarag  had  finished  his  narration  of  the 
case  of  Roomdroom  the  barber,  the  King  of  Oolb  said,  "  0 
thou,  native  of  Shiraz,  there  is  persuasion  and  sweetness 
and  fascination  on  thy  tongue,  and  I  am  touched  with 
compassion  for  the  soles  of  Baba  Mustapha  that  I  bastina- 
doed but  yesterday,  and  he  was  from  Shiraz  likewise." 

Now,  the  heart  of  Shibli  Bagarag  leapt  when  he  heard 
mention  of  Baba  Mustapha;  and  he  knew  him  for  his 
uncle  that  was  searching  him.  He  would  have  cried  aloud 
his  relationship,  but  the  hawk  whispered  in  his  ear.  Then 
the  hawk  said  to  him,  "There  is  danger  in  the  King's 
muteness  respecting  me,  for  I  am  visible  to  him.  Pro- 
claim the  spirit  of  prophecy." 

So  he  proclaimed  that  spirit,  and  the  King  said, 
"Prophesy  to  me  of  barbercraft." 

And  he  cried,  "  0  King  of  the  age,  the  barber  is  abased, 
trodden  underfoot,  given  over  to  the  sneers  and  the  gibes 
of  them  that  flatter  the  powerful  ones ;  he  is  as  the  winter 
worm,  as  the  crocodile  in  the  slime  of  his  sleep  by  the 
bank,  as  the  sick  eagle  before  moulting.  But  I  say,  0 
King,  that  he  will  come  forth  like  the  serpent  in  a  new 
skin,  shaming  the  old  one;  he  slept  a  caterpillar,  and  will 
come  forth  a  butterfly ;  he  sank  a  star,  and  lo !  he  riseth  a 
constellation." 

Now,  while  he  was  speaking  in  the  fervour  of  his  soul, 
the  King  said  something  to  one  of  the  court  officers  sur- 
rounding him,  and  there  was  brought  to  the  King  a  basin, 
a  soap-bowl,  and  barber's  tackle.  When  Shibli  Bagarag 
saw  these,  the  uses  of  the  barber  rushed  upon  his  mind, 
and  desire  to  sway  the  tackle  pushed  him  forward  and  agi- 
tated him,  so  that  he  could  not  keep  his  hand  from  them. 

Then  the  King  exclaimed,  "  It  is  as  I  thought.  Our  pas- 
sions betray  themselves,  and  our  habits ;  so  is  it  written. 


GOORELKA  OF   OOLB  121 

By  Allah  !  I  swear  thou  art  thyself  none  other  than  a  barber, 

0  youth." 

Shibli  Bagarag  was  nigh  fainting  with  terror  at  this  dis- 
covery of  the  King,  but  the  hawk  said  in  his  ear,  "Pro- 
claim speech  in  the  tackle."  So  he  proclaimed  speech  in 
the  tackle ;  and  the  King  smiled  doubtingly,  and  said,  "  If 
this  be  a  cheat,  Shiraz  will  not  see  thy  face  more." 

Then  the  hawk  whispered  in  his  ear,  "Drop  on  the 
tackle  secretly  a  drop  from  the  phial."  This  he  did, 
spreading  his  garments,  and  commanded  the  tackle  to 
speak.  And  the  tackle  spake,  each  portion  of  it,  con- 
fusedly as  the  noise  of  Babel.  So  the  King  marvelled 
greatly,  and  said,  "  'T  is  a  greater  wonder  than  the  talking 
hawk,  the  talking  tackle.  Wullahy  !  it  ennobleth  barber- 
craft  !  Yet  it  were  well  to  comprehend  the  saying  of  the 
tackle." 

Then  the  hawk  flew  to  the  tackle  and  fluttered  about  it, 
and  lo!  the  blade  and  the  brush  stood  up  and  said  in  a 
shrill  tone,  "  It  is  ordained  that  Shagpat  shall  be  shaved, 
and  that  Shibli  Bagarag  shall  shave  him. " 

The  King  bit  the  forefinger  of  amazement,  and  said, 
"What  then  ensueth,  0  talking  tackle?" 

And  the  brush  and  the  blade  stood  up,  and  said  in  a 
shrill  tone,  "Honour  to  Shibli  Bagarag  and  barbers ! 
Shame  unto  Shagpat  and  his  fellows ! " 

Upon  that,  the  King  cried,  "Enough,  0  talking  tackle; 

1  will  forestall  the  coming  thing.     I  will  be  shaved  !  wul- 
lahy.thatwilll!" 

Then  the  hawk  whispered  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  "  Forward 
and  shear  him ! "  So  he  stepped  forth  and  seized  the 
tackle,  and  addressed  himself  keenly  to  the  shaving  of  the 
King  of  Oolb,  lathering  him  and  performing  his  task  with 
perfect  skill.  And  the  courtiers  crowded  to  follow  the 
example  of  the  King,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  shaved  them,  all 
of  them.  Now,  when  they  were  shaved,  fear  smote  them, 
the  fear  of  ridicule,  and  each  laughed  at  the  change  that 
was  in  the  other ;  but  the  King  cried,  "  See  that  order  is 
issued  for  the  people  of  Oolb  to  be  as  we  before  to-mor- 
row's sun.  So  is  laughter  taken  in  reverse."  And  the 
King  said  aside  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  "  Say  now,  what  may 
be  thy  price  for  yonder  hawk?" 


122  THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

And  the  hawk  bade  him  say,  "  The  loan  of  thy  cockle- 
shell." 

The  King  mused,  and  said,  "  That  is  much  to  ask,  for  it 
is  that  which  beareth  the  Princess  my  daughter  to  the 
Lily  of  the  Enchanted  Sea,  which  she  nourisheth;  and  if 
*t  is  harmed,  she  will  be  stricken  with  ugliness,  as  was  the 
daughter  of  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  who  tended  it  before 
her.  Yet  is  this  hawk  a  bird  of  price.  What  be  its  qual- 
ities, besides  the  gift  of  speech?" 

Shibli  Bagarag  answered,  "To  counsel  in  extremity;  to 
forewarn;  to  counteract  enchantments  and  foul  magic." 

Upon  that  the  King  said,  "Follow  me  !  " 

And  the  King  led  the  way  from  the  hall,  through  many 
spacious  chambers  fair  with  mirrors  and  silks  and  precious 
woods,  and  smooth  marble  floors,  down  into  a  vault  lit  by 
a  lamp  that  was  shaped  like  an  eye.  Bound  the  vault 
were  hung  helm-pieces,  and  swords,  and  rich-studded 
housings;  and  there  were  silken  dresses,  and  costly  shawls, 
and  tall  vases  and  jars  of  China,  tapestries,  and  gold  ser- 
vices. And  the  King  said,  "Take  thy  choice  of  these  in 
exchange  for  the  hawk." 

But  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  "Nought  save  a  loan  of  the 
cockle-shell,  0  King !  " 

Then  the  King  threatened  him,  saying,  "There  is  a 
virtue  in  each  of  the  things  thou  seest:  the  China  jar  is 
brimmed  with  wine,  and  remaineth  so  though  a  thousand 
drink  of  it;  the  dress  of  Samarcand  rendereth 'the  wearer 
invisible;  yet  thou  refusest  to  exchange  them  for  thy 
hawk !  " 

And  the  King  swore  by  the  beard  of  his  father  he  would 
seize  perforce  the  hawk  and  shut  up  Shibli  Bagarag  in  the 
vault,  if  he  fell  not  into  his  bargain.  Shibli  Bagarag  was 
advised  by  the  hawk  to  accept  the  China  jar  and  the  dress 
of  Samarcand,  and  handed  the  hawk  to  the  King  in  ex- 
change for  these  things.  So  the  King  took  the  hawk  upon 
his  wrist  and  departed  with  it  to  the  apartments  of  his 
daughter,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  went  to  the  chamber  pre- 
pared for  him  in  the  palace. 

Now,  when  it  was  night,  Shibli  Bagarag  heard  a  noise 
at  his  lattice,  and  he  arose  and  peered  through  it,  and  lo ! 
the  hawk  was  fluttering  without;  so  he  let  it  in,  and 


GOOKELKA  OP   OOLB  123 

caressed  it,  and  the  hawk  bade  him  put  on  his  silken  dress 
and  carry  forth  his  China  jar,  and  go  the  round  of  the  pal- 
ace, and  offer  drink  to  the  sentinels  and  the  slaves.  So 
he  did  as  the  hawk  directed,  and  the  sentinels  and  slaves 
were  aware  of  a  China  jar  brimmed  with  wine  that  was 
lifted  to  their  lips,  but  him  that  lifted  it  they  saw  not: 
surely,  they  drank  deep  of  the  draught  of  astonishment. 

Then  the  hawk  flew  before  him,  and  he  followed  it  to  a 
chamber  lit  with  golden  lamps,  gorgeously  hung,  and  full 
of  a  dusky  splendour  and  the  faint  sparkle  of  gems,  rubj>, 
amethyst,  topaz,  and  beryl;  in  it  there  was  the  hush  of 
sleep,  and  the  heart  of  Shibli  Bagarag  told  him  that  one 
beautiful  was  near.  So  he  approached  on  tiptoe  a  couch 
of  blue  silk,  bordered  with  gold-wire,  and  inwoven  with 
stars  of  blue  turquoise  stones,  as  it  had  been  the  heavens 
of  midnight.  On  the  couch  lay  one,  a  woman,  pure  in 
loveliness;  the  dark  fringes  of  her  closed  lids  like  living 
flashes  of  darkness,  her  mouth  like  an  unstrung  bow  and 
as  a  double  rosebud,  even  as  two  isles  of  coral  between 
which  in  the  clear  transparent  watery  beds  the  pearls 
shine  freshly. 

And  the  hawk  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  "  This  is  the  Prin- 
cess Goorelka,  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Oolb,  a  sor- 
ceress, the  Guardian  of  the  Lily  of  the  Enchanted  Sea. 
Beneath  her  pillow  is  the  cockle-shell;  grasp  it,  but  gaze 
not  upon  her." 

He  approached  and  slid  his  arm  beneath  the  pillow  of 
the  Princess,  and  grasped  the  cockle-shell ;  but  ere  he  drew 
it  forth  he  gazed  upon  her,  and  the  lustre  of  her  counte- 
nance transfixed  him  as  with  a  javelin,  so  that  he  could 
not  stir,  nor  move  his  eyes  from  the  contemplation  of  her 
sweetness  of  feature.  The  hawk  darted  at  him  fiercely, 
and  pecked  at  him  to  draw  his  attention  from  her,  and  he 
stepped  back,  yet  he  continued  taking  fatal  draughts  from 
the  magic  cup  of  her  beauty.  Then  the  hawk  screamed 
a  loud  scream  of  anguish,  and  the  Princess  awoke,  and 
started  half-way  from  the  couch,  and  stared  about  her, 
and  saw  the  bird  in  agitation.  As  she  looked  at  the  bird 
a  shudder  passed  over  her,  and  she  snatched  a  veil  and 
drew  it  over  her  face,  murmuring,  "I  dream,  or  I  am 
under  the  eye  of  a  man."  Then  sb/»  felt  beneath  the  pil- 


124  THE  SHAVING  OF  8HAGPAT 

low,  and  knew  that  the  cockle-shell  had  been  touched ;  and 
in  a  moment  she  leapt  from  the  couch,  and  ran  to  a  mirror 
and  saw  herself  as  she  was,  a  full-moon  made  to  snare  the 
wariest  and  sit  singly  high  on  a  throne  in  the  hearts  of 
men.  At  the  sight  of  her  beauty  she  smiled  and  seemed 
at  peace,  murmuring  still,  "  I  am  under  the  eye  of  a  man, 
or  I  dream."  Now,  while  she  so  murmured  she  arrayed 
herself,  and  took  the  cockle-shell,  and  passed  through  the 
ante-room  among  her  women  sleeping;  and  Shibli  Bagarag 
tracked  her  till  she  came  to  the  vault;  and  she  entered  it 
and  walked  to  the  corner  from  which  had  hung  the  dress 
of  Samarcand.  When  she  saw  it  gone  her  face  waxed 
pale,  and  she  gazed  slowly  at  all  points,  muttering,  "  There 
is  no  further  doubt  but  that  I  am  under  the  eye  of  a  man  !  " 
Thereupon  she  ran  hastily  from  the  vault,  and  passed  be- 
tween the  sentinels  of  the  palace,  and  saw  them  where 
they  lay  drowsy  with  intoxication :  so  she  knew  that  the 
China  jar  and  the  dress  of  Samarcand  had  been  used  that 
night,  and  for  no  purpose  friendly  to  her  wishes.  Then 
she  passed  down  the  palace  steps,  and  through  the  gates 
of  the  palace  and  the  city,  till  she  came  to  the  shore  of 
the  sea;  there  she  launched  the  cockle-shell  and  took  the 
wind  in  her  garments,  and  sat  in  it,  filling  it  to  overflow- 
ing, yet  it  floated.  And  Shibli  Bagarag  waded  to  the 
cockle-shell  and  took  hold  of  it,  and  was  drawn  along  by 
its  motion  swiftly  through  the  waters,  so  that  a  foam  swept 
after  him;  and  Goorelka  marked  the  foam.  Now,  they 
had  passage  over  the  billows  smoothly,  and  soon  the  length 
of  the  sea  was  darkened  with  two  high  rocks,  and  between 
them  there  was  a  narrow  channel  of  the  sea,  roughened 
with  moonlight.  So  they  sped  between  the  rocks,  and 
came  upon  a  purple  sea,  dark -blue  overhead,  with  large 
stars  leaning  to  the  waves.  There  was  a  soft  whispering- 
ness  in  the  breath  of  the  breezes  that  swung  there,  and 
many  sails  of  charmed  ships  were  seen  in  momentary 
gleams,  flapping  the  mast  idly  far  away.  Warm  as  new 
milk  from  the  full  udders  were  the  waters  of  that  sea,  and 
figures  of  fair  women  stretched  lengthwise  with  the  cur- 
rent, and  lifted  a  head  as  they  rushed  rolling  by.  Truly 
it  was  enchanted  even  to  the  very  bed  I 


THE  LILY   OF   THE  ENCHANTED   SEA 

Now,  after  the  cockle-shell  had  skimmed  calmly  awhile, 
it  began  to  pitch  and  grew  unquiet,  and  came  upon  a  surg- 
ing foam,  pale,  and  with  scintillating  bubbles.  The  surges 
increased  in  volume,  and  boiled,  hissing  as  with  anger, 
like  savage  animals.  Presently,  the  cockle-shell  rose  upon 
one  very  lofty  swell,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  lost  hold  of  it, 
and  lo !  it  was  overturned  and  engulfed  in  the  descent  of 
the  great  mountain  of  water,  and  the  Princess  Goorelka 
was  immersed  in  the  depths.  She  would  have  sunk,  but 
Shibli  Bagarag  caught  hold  of  her,  and  supported  her  to 
the  shore  by  the  strength  of  his  right  arm.  The  shore 
was  one  of  sand  and  shells,  their  wet  cheeks  sparkling  in 
the  moonlight ;  over  it  hung  a  promontory,  a  huge  jut  of 
black  rock.  Now,  the  Princess  when  she  landed,  seeing 
not  him  that  supported  her,  delayed  not  to  run  beneath 
the  rock,  and  ascended  by  steps  cut  from  the  base  of  the 
rock.  And  Shibli  Bagarag  followed  her  by  winding  paths 
round  the  rock,  till  she  came  to  the  highest  peak  com- 
manding the  circle  of  the  Enchanted  Sea,  and  glimpses  of 
enthralled  vessels,  and  mariners  bewitched  on  board ;  long 
paths  of  starlight  rippled  into  the  distant  gloom,  and  the 
reflection  of  the  moon  opposite  was  as  a  wide  nuptial  sheet; 
of  silver  on  the  waters:  islands,  green  and  white,  and 
with  soft  music  floating  from  their  foliage,  sailed  slowly 
to  and  fro.  Surely,  to  dwell  reclining  among  the  slopes 
of  those  islands  a  man  would  forfeit  Paradise  !  Now,  the 
Princess,  as  she  stood  upon  the  peak,  knew  that  she  was 
not  alone,  and  pretended  to  slip  from  her  footing,  and 
Shibli  Bagarag  called  out  and  ran  to  her;  but  she  turned 
in  the  direction  of  his  voice  and  laughed,  and  he  knew  he 
was  outwitted.  Then,  to  deceive  her,  he  dropped  from 
the  phial  twenty  drops  round  her  on  the  rock,  and  those 
twenty  drops  became  twenty  voices,  so  that  she  was  be- 


126  THE  SHAVING  OF   8HAGPAT 

wilcrered  with  their  calls,  and  stopped  her  ears,  and  ran 
from  them,  and  descended  from  the  eminence  nimbly,  slip- 
ping n)ver  ledges  and  leaping  the  abysses.  And  Shibli 
Bagarag  followed  her,  clutching  at  the  trailers  and  tearing 
them  with  him,  letting  loose  a  torrent  of  stones  and  earth, 
till  on  a  oudden  they  stood  together  above  a  greenswarded 
basin  of  the  rock  opening  to  the  sea;  and  in  the  middle  of 
the  basin,  lo!  in  stature  like  a  maiden  of  the  mountains, 
and  one  tnat  droopeth  her  head  pensively  thinking  of  her 
absent  lover,  the  Enchanted  Lily.  Wonder  knocked  at 
the  breast,  of  Shibli  Bagarag  when  he  saw  that  queenly 
flower  waving  its  illumined  head  to  the  breeze :  he  could 
iot  retain  a  cry  of  rapture.  As  he  did  this  the  Princess 
stretched  her  hand  to  where  he  was  and  groped  a  moment, 
and  caught  hin>  by  the  silken  dress  and  tore  in  it  a  great 
rent,  and  by  the  rent  he  stood  revealed  to  her.  Then  said 
she,  "O  youth,  thou  hast  done  ill  to  follow  me  here,  and 
the  danger  of  it  is  past  computing ;  surely,  the  motive  was 
a  deep  one,  nought  other  than  the  love  of  me." 

She  spoke  winningly,  sweet  words  to  a  luted  voice,  and 
the  youth  fell  upon  his  knees  before  her,  smitten  by  her 
beauty;  and  he  said,  "I  followed  thee  here  as  I  would 
follow  such  loveliness  to  the  gates  of  doom,  0  Princess  of 
Oolb." 

She  smiled  and  said  playfully,  "I  will  read  by  thy  hand 
whether  thou  be  one  faithful  in  love." 

She  took  his  hand  and  sprinkled  on  it  earth  and  gravel, 
and  commenced  scanning  it  curiously.  As  she  scanned  it 
her  forehead  wrinkled  up,  and  a  shot  like  black  lightning 
travelled  across  her  countenance,  withering  its  beauty :  she 
cried  in  a  forced  voice,  "  Aha !  it  is  well,  0  youth,  for  thee 
and  for  me  that  thou  lovest  me,  and  art  faithful  in  love." 

The  look  of  the  Princess  of  Oolb  and  her  voice  affrighted 
the  soul  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  he  would  have  turned  from 
her;  but  she  held  him,  and  went  to  the  Lily,  and  emptied 
into  the  palm  of  her  hand  the  dew  that  was  in  the  Lily, 
and  raised  it  to  the  lips  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  bidding  him 
drink  as  a  pledge  for  her  sake  and  her  love,  and  to  appease 
his  thirst.  As  he  was  about  to  drink,  there  fell  into  the 
palm  of  the  Princess  from  above  what  seemed  a  bolt  of 
storm  scattering  the  dew;  and  after  he  had  blinked  with 


THE  LILY   OF  THE  ENCHANTED   SEA  127 

the  suddenness  of  the  action  he  looked  and  beheld  the 
hawk,  its  red  eyes  inflamed  with  wrath.  And  the  hawk 
screamed  into  the  ear  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  "Pluck  up  the 
Lily  ere  it  is  too  late,  O  fool !  —  the  dew  was  poison ! 
Pluck  it  by  the  root  with  thy  right  hand !  " 

So  thereat  he  strode  to  the  Lily,  and  grasped  it,  and 
pulled  with  his  strength ;  and  the  Lily  was  loosened,  and 
yielded,  and  came  forth  streaming  with  blood  from  the  bulb 
of  the  root;  surely  the  bulb  of  the  root  was  a  palpitating 
heart,  yet  warm,  even  as  that  we  have  within  our  bosoms. 

Now,  from  the  terror  of  that  sight  the  Princess  hid  her 
eyes,  and  shrank  away.  And  the  lines  of  malice,  avarice, 
and  envy  seemed  ageing  her  at  every  breath.  Then  the 
hawk  pecked  at  her  three  pecks,  and  perched  on  a  corner 
of  rock,  and  called  shrilly  the  name  "  Karaz ! "  And  the 
Genie  Karaz  came  slanting  down  the  night  air,  like  a 
preying  bird,  and  stood  among  them.  So  the  hawk  cried, 
"See,  0  Karaz,  the  freshness  of  thy  Princess  of  Oolb;" 
and  the  Genie  regarded  her  till  loathing  curled  his  lip,  for 
she  grew  in  ghastliness  to  the  colour  of  a  frog,  and  a  frog's 
face  was  hers,  a  camel's  back,  a  pelican's  throat,  the  legs 
of  a  peacock. 

Then  the  hawk  cried,  "  Is  this  how  ye  meet,  ye  lovers, 
—  ye  that  will  be  wedded?"  And  the  hawk  made  his 
tongue  as  a  thorn  to  them.  At  the  last  it  exclaimed, 
"  Now  let  us  fight  our  battle,  O  Karaz ! " 

But  the  Genie  said,  "Nay,  there  will  come  a  time  for 
that,  traitress ! " 

The  hawk  cried,  "  Thou  delay est,  till  the  phial  of  Para- 
vid,  the  hairs  of  Garraveen,  and  this  Lily,  my  three  helps, 
are  expended,  thinking  Aklis,  for  which  we  barter  them, 
striketh  but  a  single  blow?  That  is  well !  Go,  then,  and 
take  thy  Princess,  and  obtain  permission  of  the  King  of 
Oolb,  her  father,  to  wed  her,  0  Karaz ! " 

The  hawk  whistled  with  laughter,  and  the  Genie  was 
stung  with  its  mockeries,  and  clutched  the  Princess  of 
Oolb  in  a  bunch,  and  arose  from  the  ground  with  her, 
slanting  up  the  night-air  like  fire,  till  he  was  seen  high  up 
even  as  an  angry  star  reddening  the  seas  beneath. 

When  he  was  lost  to  the  eye,  Shibli  Bagarag  drew  a 
long  breath  and  cried  aloud,  "  The  likeness  of  that  Prin- 


128  THE  SHAVING   OF  8HAGPAT 

cess  of  Oolb  in  her  ugliness  to  Noorna,  my  betrothed,  is  a 
thing  marvellous,  if  it  be  not  she  herself."  And  he  re- 
flected, "  Yet  she  seemed  not  to  recognize  and  claim  me ;  " 
and  thought,  "  I  am  bound  to  her  by  gratitude,  and  I 
should  have  rescued  her  from  Karaz,  but  1  kuow  not  if  it 
be  she.  Wullahy!  I  am  bewildered;  1  will  ask  counsel  of 
the  hawk."  He  looked  to  the  corner  of  the  rock  where 
the  hawk  had  perched,  but  the  hawk  was  gone;  as  he 
searched  for  it,  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  bed  of  earth  where 
.the  Lily  stood  ere  he  plucked  it,  and  lo  !  in  the  place  of 
«he  Lily,  there  was  a  damsel  dressed  in  white  shining 
uilks,  fairer  than  the  enchanted  flower,  straighter  than  the 
stalk  of  it;  her  head  slightly  drooping,  like  the  moon  on 
a  border  of  the  night;  her  bosom  like  the  swell  of  the  sea 
in  moonlight;  her  eyes  dark,  under  a  low  arch  of  darker 
lashes,  like  stars  on  the  skirts  of  storm ;  and  she  was  the 
very  dream  of  loveliness,  formed  to  freeze  with  awe,  and 
to  inflame  with  passion.  So  Shibli  Bagarag  gazed  at  her 
with  adoration,  his  hands  stretched  half-way  to  her  as  if 
to  clasp  her,  fearing  she  was  a  vision  and  would  fade;  and 
the  damsel  smiled  a  sweet  smile,  and  lifted  her  antelope 
eyes,  and  said,  "Who  am  I,  and  to  whom  might  I  be 
likened,  0  youth?" 

And  he  answered,  "Who  thou  art,  0  young  perfection, 
I  know  not,  if  not  a  Houri  of  Paradise ;  but  thou  art  like 
the  Princess  of  Oolb,  yet  lovelier,  oh  lovelier !  And  thy 
voice  is  the  voice  of  Noorna,  my  betrothed;  yet  purer, 
sweeter,  younger." 

So  the  damsel  laughed  a  laugh  like  a  sudden  sweeping 
of  wild  chords  of  music,  and  said,  "0  youth,  saw'st  thou 
not  the  ascent  of  Noorna,  thy  betrothed,  gathered  in  a 
bunch  by  Karaz?  " 

And  he  answered,  "I  saw  her;  but  I  knew  not,  0  dam- 
sel of  beauty;  surely  I  was  bewildered,  amazed,  without 
power  to  contend  with  the  Genie." 

Then  she  said,  "Wouldst  thou  release  her?  So  kiss 
me  on  the  lips,  on  the  eyes,  and  on  the  forehead,  three 
kisses  each  time;  and  with  the  first  say,  '  By  the  well  of 
Paravid ;  '  and  with  the  second,  *  By  the  strength  of  Gar- 
taveen  I  *  and  with  the  third,  'By  the  Lily  of  the  Sea ! ;  " 

Now,  the  heart  of  the  youth  bounded  at  her  words,  and 


THE  LILY   OP  THE  ENCHANTED   SEA  129 

he  went  to  her,  and  trembling  kissed  her  all  bashfully  on 
the  lips,  on  the  eyes,  and  on  the  forehead,  saying  each 
time  as  she  directed.  Then  she  took  him  by  the  hand, 
and  stepped  from  the  bed  of  earth,  crying  joyfully, 
"  Thanks  be  to  Allah  and  the  Prophet !  Noorna  is  re- 
leased from  the  sorceries  that  held  her,  and  powerful." 

So,  while  he  was  wondering,  she  said,  "Knowest  thou 
not  the  woman,  thy  betrothed? " 

He  answered,  "  0  damsel  of  beauty,  I  am  charged  with 
many  feelings ;  doubts  and  hopes  are  mixed  in  me.  Say 
first  who  thou  art,  and  fill  my  two  ears  with  bliss." 

And  she  said,  "I  will  leave  my  name  to  other  lips; 
surely  I  am  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  be- 
trothed to  a  wandering  youth,  —  a  barber,  who  sickened 
at  the  betrothal,  and  consoled  himself  with  a  proverb 
when  he  gave  me  the  kiss  of  contract,  and  knew  not  how 
with  truth  to  pay  me  a  compliment." 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  this  was  indeed  Noorna  bin 
Noorka,  his  betrothed,  and  he  fell  before  her  in  love  and 
astonishment;  but  she  lifted  him  to  her  neck,  and  em- 
braced him,  saying,  "  Said  I  not  truly  when  I  said  '  I  am 
that  I  shall  be '?  My  youth  is  not  as  that  of  Bhanavar  the 
Beautiful,  gained  at  another's  cost,  but  my  own,  and  stolen 
from  me  by  wicked  sorceries." 

And  he  cried,  "Tell  me,  0  Noorna,  my  betrothed,  how 
this  matter  came  to  pass?  " 

She  said,  "On  our  way  to  Aklis." 

She  bade  him  grasp  the  Lily,  and  follow  her;  and  he 
followed  her  down  the  rock  and  over  the  bright  shells  upon 
the  sand,  admiring  her  stateliness,  her  willowy  lightness, 
her  slimness  as  of  the  palm-tree.  Then  she  waded  in  the 
water,  and  began  to  strike  out  with  her  arms,  and  swim 
boldly,  —he  likewise;  and  presently  they  came  to  a  cur> 
rent  that  hurried  them  off  in  its  course,  and  carried  them 
as  weeds,  streaming  rapidly.  He  was  bearing  witness  to 
his  faith  as  a  man  that  has  lost  hope  of  life,  when  a  strong 
eddy  stayed  him,  and  whirled  him  from  the  current  into 
the  calm  water.  So  he  looked  for  Noorna,  and  saw  her 
safe  beside  him  flinging  back  the  wet  tresses  from  her 
face,  that  was  like  the  full  moon  growing  radiant  behind  a 
dispersing  cloud.  And  she  said,  "  Ask  not  for  the  inter- 


130  THE  SHAVING   OP   SHAGPAT 

pretation  of  wonders  in  this  sea,  for  they  cluster  like  dates 
on  a  date  branch.  Surely,  to  be  with  me  is  enough?  " 

And  she  bewitched  him  in  the  midst  of  the  waters,  mak- 
ing him  oblivious  of  all  save  her,  so  that  he  hugged  the 
golden  net  of  her  smiles  and  fair  flatteries,  and  swam  with 
an  exulting  stroke,  giving  his  breast  broadly  to  the  low 
billows,  and  shouting  verses  of  love  and  delight  to  her. 
And  while  they  swam  sweetly,  behold,  there  was  seen  a 
pearly  shell  of  flashing  crimson,  amethyst,  and  emerald, 
that  came  scudding  over  the  waves  toward  them,  raised  to 
the  wind,  fan-shaped,  and  in  its  front  two  silver  seats. 
When  she  saw  it,  Noorna  cried,  "She  has  sent  me  this, 
Kabesqurat !  Perchance  is  she  favourable  to  my  wishes, 
and  this  were  well !  " 

Then  she  swayed  in  the  water  sideways,  and  drew  the 
shell  to  her,  and  the  twain  climbed  into  it,  and  sat  each 
on  one  of  the  silver  seats,  folded  together.  In  its  light- 
ness it  was  as  a  foam-bubble  before  the  wind  on  the  blue 
water,  and  bore  them  onward  airily.  At  his  feet  Shibli 
Bagarag  beheld  a  stool  of  carved  topaz,  and  above  his  head 
the  arch  of  the  shell  was  inlaid  with  wreaths  of  gems: 
never  was  vessel  fairer  than  that. 

Now,  while  they  were  speeding  over  the  water,  Noorna 
said,  "  The  end  of  this  fair  sea  is  Aklis,  and  beyond  it  is 
the  Koosh.  So  while  the  wind  is  our  helmsman,  and  we 
go  circled  by  the  quiet  of  this  sea,  I  '11  tell  thee  of  myself, 
if  thou  carest  to  hear." 

And  he  cried  with  the  ardour  of  love,  "  Surely,  I  would 
hear  of  nought  save  thyself,  0  Noorna,  and  the  music  of 
the  happy  garden  compareth  not  in  sweetness  with  it.  I 
long  for  the  freshness  of  thy  voice,  as  the  desert  camel  for 
the  green  spring,  0  my  betrothed !  " 

So  she  said,  "  And  now  give  ear  to  the  following  ** 


AND  THIS  IS  THE  STORY  OP  NOORNA 
BIN  NOORKA,  THE  GENIE  KARAZ, 
AND  THE  PRINCESS  OF  OOLB 

KNOW  that  when  I  was  a  babe  I  lay  on  my  mother's 
bosom  in  the  wilderness,  and  it  was  the  bosom  of  death. 
Surely,  I  slept  and  smiled,  and  dreamed  the  infant's 
dream,  and  knew  not  the  coldness  of  the  thing  I  touched. 
So  were  we  even  as  two  dead  creatures  lying  there;  but 
life  was  in  me,  and  I  awoke  with  hunger  at  the  time  of 
feeding,  and  turned  to  my  mother,  and  put  up  my  little 
mouth  to  her  for  nourishment,  and  sucked  her,  but  noth- 
ing came.  I  cried,  and  commenced  chiding  her,  and  after 
a  while  it  was  as  decreed,  that  certain  horsemen  of  a  troop 
passing  through  the  wilderness  beheld  me,  and  seeing  my 
distress  and  the  helpless  being  I  was,  their  hearts  were 
stirred,  and  they  were  mindful  of  what  the  poet  says  con- 
cerning succour  given  to  the  poor,  helpless,  and  innocent 
of  this  world,  and  took  me  up,  and  mixed  for  me  camel's 
milk  and  water  from  the  bags,  and  comforted  me,  and  bore 
me  with  them,  after  they  had  paid  funeral  rites  to  the 
body  of  my  mother. 

Now,  the  rose-bud  showeth  if  the  rose-tree  be  of  the 
wilds  or  of  the  garden,  and  the  chief  of  that  troop  seeing 
me  born  to  the  uses  of  gentleness,  carried  me  in  his  arms 
with  him  to  his  wife,  and  persuaded  her  that  was  child- 
less to  make  me  the  child  of  their  adoption.  So  I  abode 
with  them  during  the  period  of  infancy  and  childhood, 
caressed  and  cared  for,  as  is  said: 

The  flower  a  stranger's  hand  may  gather, 
Strikes  root  into  the  stranger's  breast; 

Affection  is  oar  mother,  father, 
Friend,  and  of  cheriahers  the  best. 


132  THE  SHAVING  OP   8HAGPAT 

And  I  loved  them  as  their  own  child,  witting  not  but  that 
I  was  their  child,  till  on  a  day  while  I  played  among  some 
children  of  my  years,  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Oolb 
passed  by  us  on  a  mule,  with  her  slaves  and  drawn  swords, 
and  called  to  me,  "  Thou  little  castaway !  "  and  had  me 
brought  to  her,  and  peered  upon  my  face  in  a  manner  that 
frightened  me,  for  I  was  young.  Then  she  put  me  down 
from  the  neck  of  her  mule  where  she  had  seated  me,  say- 
ing, "  Child  of  a  dead  mother  and  a  runaway  father,  what 
need  I  fear  from  thy  like,  and  the  dreams  of  a  love-sick 
Genie?"  So  she  departed,  but  I  forgot  not  her  words, 
and  dwelt  upon  them,  and  grew  fevered  with  them,  and 
drooped.  Now,  when  he  saw  my  bloom  of  health  gone, 
heaviness  on  my  feet,  the  light  hollowed  from  my  eyes, 
my  benefactor,  Ravaloke —  he  that  I  had  thought  my 
father  —  took  me  between  his  knees,  and  asked  me  what 
it  was  and  the  cause  of  my  ailing;  and  I  told  him. 

Then  said  he,  "This  is  so:  thou  art  not  my  child;  but 
I  love  thee  as  mine,  0  my  little  Desert- flower;  and  why 
the  Princess  should  fancy  fear  of  thee  I  like  not  to  think ; 
but  fear  thou  her,  for  she  is  a  mask  of  wiles  and  a  vine 
trailing  over  pitfalls ;  such  a  sorceress  the  world  knoweth 
not  as  Goorelka  of  Oolb." 

Now,  I  was  penetrated  by  what  he  said,  and  ceased  to 
be  a  companion  to  them  that  loved  childish  games  and 
romps,  and  meditated  by  myself  in  gardens  and  closets, 
feigning  sleep  when  the  elder  ones  discoursed,  that  I 
might  learn  something  of  this  mystery,  and  all  that  was 
spoken  perplexed  me  more,  as  the  sage  declareth: 

Who  in  a  labyrinth  wandereth  without  clue, 
More  that  he  wandereth  doth  himself  undo. 

Though  I  was  quick  as  the  quick-eyed  falcon,  I  discovered 
nought,  flying  ever  at  false  game,  — 

A  follower  of  misleading  beams, 
A  cheated  soul,  the  mock  of  dreams. 

At  times  I  thought  that  it  was  the  King  of  Oolb  was  my 
father,  and  plotted  to  come  in  his  path;  and  there  were 
kings  and  princes  of  far  countries  whom  I  sought  to  en- 
counter, that  they  might  claim  me ;  but  none  claimed  me. 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARA2  133 

0  my  betrothed,  few  gave  me  love  beside  Ravaloke,  and 
when  the  wife  that  he  cherished  died,  he  solely,  for  I  was 
lost  in  waywardness  and  the  slave  of  moody  imaginings. 
'Tis  said: 

If  thon  the  love  of  the  world  for  thyself  wonldst  gain,  mould  thy  breast 
Liker  the  world  to  become,  for  its  like  the  world  loveth  beet ; 

and  this  was  not  I  then. 

Now,  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men  are  used  to  cele- 
brate the  days  of  their  birth  with  gifts  and  rejoicings,  but 

1  could  only  celebrate  that  day  which  delivered  me  from 
death  into  the  hands  of  Ravaloke,  as  none  knew  my  birth- 
hour.      When  it  was  the  twelfth  return  of  this  event, 
Ravaloke,  my  heart's  father,  called  me  to  him  and  pressed 
in  my  hand  a  glittering  coin,  telling  me  to  buy  with  it  in 
the  bazaars  what  I  would.     So  I  went  forth,  attended  by 
*  black  slave,  after  the  mid-noon,  for  I  was  eager  to  ex- 
pend my  store,  and  cared  not  for  the  great  heat.     Scarcely 
had  we  passed  the  cheese-market  and  were  hurrying  on  to 
shops  of  the  goldsmiths  and  jewellers,  when  I  saw  an  old 
man,  a  beggar,  in  a  dirty  yellow  turban  and  pieced  parti- 
coloured cloth-stuff,  and  linen  in  rags  his  other  gear.     So 
lean  was  he,  and  looked  so  weak  that  I  wondered  he  did 
other  than  lay  his  length  on  the  ground ;  and  as  he  asked 
me  for  alms  his  voice  had  a  piteousness  that  made  me  to 
weep,  and  I  punished  my  slave  for  seeking  to  drive  him 
away,  and  gave  my  one  piece  of  gold  into  his  hand.     Then 
he  asked  me  what  I  required  of  him  in  exchange,  and  I 
said,  "What  can  a  poor  old  man  that  is  a  beggar  give?" 
He  laughed,  and  asked  me  then  what  I  had  intended  to 
buy  with  that  piece  of  money.     So,  beginning  to  regret 
the  power  that  was  gone  from  me  of  commanding  with  my 
gold  piece  this  and  that  fine  thing,  I  mused,  and  said, 
"Truly,  a  blue  dress  embroidered  with  gold,  and  a  gold 
crown,  and  gold  bracelets  set  with  turquoise  stones,  — 
these,  and  toys;  but  could  I  buy  in  this  city  a  book  of 
magic,  that  were  my  purchase." 

The  old  fellow  smiled,  and  said  to  my  black  slave, 
"  And  thou,  hadst  thou  this  coin,  what  were  thy  purchase 
therewith?  " 

He,  scoffing  the  old  beggar,  answered,  "A  plaister  fo» 


134  THE  SHAVING  OF  8HAGPAT 

sores  as  broad  as  my  back,  and  a  camel's  hump,  0  thoi, 
old  villain!" 

The  old  man  grunted  in  his  chest,  and  said,  "  Thou  art 
but  a  camel  thyself,  to  hinder  a  true  Mussulman  from 
passing  in  peace  down  a  street  of  Oolb ;  so  't  were  a  good 
purchase  and  a  fitting:  know'st  thou  what  is  said  of  the 
blessing  given  by  them  that  receive  a  charity? 

'  T  is  the  fertilizing  dew  that  streameth  after  the  son, 
Strong  as  the  breath  of  Allah  to  bless  life  well  begun.' 

So  is  my  blessing  on  the  little  damsel,  and  she  shall  have 
her  wish,  wullahy,  thou  black  face  !  and  thou  thine." 

This  spake  the  old  man,  and  hobbled  off  while  my  slave 
was  jeering  him.  So  I  strolled  through  the  bazaars  and 
thought  no  more  of  the  old  man's  words,  and  longed  to 
purchase  a  hundred  fineries,  and  came  to  the  confectioner's, 
and  smelt  the  smell  of  his  musk-scented  sweetmeats  and 
lemon  sweets  and  sugared  pistachios  that  are  delicious  to 
crunch  between  the  teeth.  My  mouth  watered,  and  I  said 
to  my  slave,  "  0  Kadrab,  a  coin,  though  't  were  small, 
would  give  us  privilege  in  yonder  shop  to  select,  and 
feast,  and  approve  the  skill  of  the  confectioner." 

He  grinned,  and  displayed  in  his  black  fist  a  petty  coin 
of  exchange,  but  would  not  let  me  have  it  till  I  had  sworn 
to  give  no  more  away  to  beggars.  So  even  as  we  were 
hurrying  into  the  shop,  another  old  beggar  wretcheder 
than  the  first  fronted  me,  and  I  was  moved,  and  forgot 
my  promise  to  Kadrab,  and  gave  him  the  money.  Then 
was  Kadrab  wroth,  and  kicked  the  old  beggar  with  his 
fore-foot,  lifting  him  high  in  air,  and  lo!  he  did  not 
alight,  but  rose  over  the  roofs  of  the  houses  and  beyond 
the  city,  till  he  was  but  a  speck  in  the  blue  of  the  sky 
above.  So  Kadrab  bit  his  forefinger  amazed,  and  glanced 
at  his  foot,  and  at  what  was  visible  of  the  old  beggar-man, 
and  again  at  his  foot,  thinking  but  of  what  he  had  done 
with  it,  and  the  might  manifested  in  that  kick,  fool  that 
he  was !  All  the  way  homeward  he  kept  scanning  the  sky 
and  lifting  his  foot  aloft,  and  I  saw  him  bewildered  with 
a  strange  conceit,  as  the  poet  has  exclaimed  in  his  scorn : 

Oh,  world  diseased  !  oh,  race  empirical ! 
Where  fools  are  the  fathers  of  every  miracle  ! 


NOORNA   AND   THE  GENIE  KABAZ  135 

Now,  when  I  was  in  my  chamber,  what  saw  I  there  but 
a  dress  of  very  costly  blue  raiment  with  gold-work  broid- 
ery and  a  lovely  circlet  of  gold,  and  gold  bracelets  set 
with  stones  of  turquoise,  and  a  basket  of  gold  woven  wire, 
wherein  were  toys,  wondrous  ones  —  soldiers  that  cut  off 
each  other's  heads  and  put  them  on  again,  springing  ante- 
lopes, palm-trees  that  turned  to  fountains,  and  others;  and 
lo  !  a  book  in  red  binding,  with  figures  on  it,  and  clasps  of 
gold,  a  great  book !  So  I  clapped  my  hands  joyfully,  cry- 
ing, "  The  old  beggar  has  done  it ! "  and  robed  myself  in 
the  dress,  and  ran  forth  to  tell  Ravaloke.  As  I  ran  by  a 
window  looking  on  the  inner  court,  I  saw  below  a  crowd 
of  all  the  slaves  of  Ravaloke  round  one  that  was  seeking 
to  escape  from  them,  and  'twas  Kadrab  with  a  camel's 
hump  on  his  back,  and  a  broad  brown  plaister  over  it,  the 
wretch  howling,  peering  across  his  shoulder,  and  trying  to 
bolt  from  his  burden,  as  a  horse  that  would  ran  from  his 
rider.  Then  I  saw  that  Kadrab  also  had  his  wish,  his 
camel's  hump,  and  thought,  "The  old  beggar,  what  was 
he  but  a  Genie?  "  Surely  Ravaloke  caressed  me  when  he 
heard  of  the  adventure,  and  what  had  befallen  Kadrab  was 
the  jest  of  the  city ;  but  for  me  I  spared  little  time  away 
from  that  book,  and  studied  in  it  incessantly  the  ways  and 
windings  of  magic,  till  I  could  hold  communication  with 
Genii,  and  wield  charms  to  summon  them,  and  utter  spells 
that  subdue  them,  discovering  the  haunts  of  talismans  that 
enthral  Afrites  and  are  powerful  among  men.  There  was 
that  Kadrab  coming  to  me  daily  to  call  out  in  the  air  for 
the  old  beggarman  to  rid  him  of  his  hump;  and  he  would 
waste  hours  looking  up  into  the  sky  moodily  for  him,  and 
cursing  the  five  toes  of  his  foot,  for  he  doubted  not  the 
two  beggars  were  one,  and  that  he  was  punished  for  the 
kick,  and  lamented  it  direly,  saying  in  the  thick  of  his 
whimperings,  "  I  'd  give  the  foot  that  did  it  to  be  released 
from  my  hump,  0  my  fair  mistress."  So  I  pitied  him, 
and  made  a  powder  and  a  spell,  and  my  first  experiment 
in  magic  was  to  relieve  Kadrab  of  his  hump,  and  I  suc- 
ceeded in  loosening  it,  and  it  came  away  from  him,  and 
sank  into  the  ground  of  the  garden  where  we  stood.  So 
I  told  Kadrab  to  say  nothing  of  this,  but  the  idle-pated 
fellow  blabbed  it  over  the  city,  and  it  came  to  the  ears  of 


136  THE  SHAVING  OP   SHAGPAT 

Goorelka.  Then  she  sent  for  me  to  visit  her,  and  by  the 
advice  of  Ravaloke  I  went,  and  she  fondled  me,  and 
sought  to  get  at  the  depth  of  my  knowledge  by  a  spell 
that  tieth  every  faculty  save  the  tongue,  and  it  is  the  spell 
of  vain  longing.  Now,  because  I  baffled  her  arts  she  knew 
me  more  cunning  than  I  seemed,  and  as  night  advanced 
she  affected  to  be  possessed  with  pleasure  in  me,  and  took 
me  in  her  arms  and  sought  to  fascinate  me,  and  I  heard 
her  mutter  once,  "Shall  I  doubt  the  warning  of  Karaz?" 
So  presently  she  said,  "  Come  with  me ; "  and  I  went 
•with  her  under  the  curtain  of  that  apartment  into  another, 
a  long  saloon,  wherein  were  couches  round  a  fountain,  and 
beyond  it  an  aviary  lit  with  lamps :  when  we  were  there 
she  whistled,  and  immediately  there  was  a  concert  of 
birds,  a  wondrous  accord  of  exquisite  piping,  and  she 
leaned  on  a  couch  and  took  me  by  her  to  listen ;  sweet  and 
passionate  was  the  harmony  of  the  birds;  but  I  let  not  my 
faculties  lull,  and  observed  that  round  the  throat  of  every 
bird  was  a  ringed  mark  of  gold  and  stamps  of  divers  gems 
similar  in  colour  to  a  ring  on  the  forefinger  of  her  right 
hand,  which  she  dazzled  my  sight  with  as  she  flashed  it. 
When  we  had  listened  a  long  hour  to  this  music,  the  Prin- 
cess gazed  on  me  as  if  to  mark  the  effect  of  a  charm,  and 
I  saw  disappointment  on  her  lovely  face,  and  she  bit  her 
lip  and  looked  spiteful,  saying,  "  Thou  art  far  gone  in  the 
use  of  magic,  and  wary,  O  girl !  "  Then  she  laughed  un- 
naturally, and  called  slaves  to  bring  in  sweet  drinks  to  us, 
and  I  drank  with  her,  and  became  less  wary,  and  she 
fondled  me  more,  calling  me  tender  names,  heaping  en- 
dearments on  me;  and  as  the  hour  of  the  middle-night 
approached  I  was  losing  all  suspicion  in  deep  languor,  and 
sighed  at  the  song  of  the  birds,  the  long  love-song,  and 
dozed  awake  with  eyes  half  shut.  I  felt  her  steal  from 
me,  and  continued  still  motionless  without  alarm :  so  was 
I  mastered.  What  hour  it  was  or  what  time  had  passed  I 
cannot  say,  when  a  bird  that  was  chained  on  a  perch  be- 
fore me  —  a  very  quaint  bird,  with  a  topknot  awry,  and 
black,  heavy  bill,  and  ragged  gorgeousness  of  plumage  — 
the  only  object  between  my  lids  and  darkness,  suddenly, 
in  the  midst  of  the  singing,  let  loose  a  hoarse  laugh  that 
was  followed  by  peals  of  laughter  from  the  other  birds. 


NOOKNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ  187 

Thereat  I  started  up,  and  beheld  the  Princess  standing 
over  a  brazier,  and  she  seized  a  slipper  from  her  foot  and 
flung  it  at  the  bird  that  had  first  laughed,  and  struck  him 
off  his  perch,  and  went  to  him  and  seized  him  and  shook 
him,  crying,  "  Dare  to  laugh  again !  "  and  he  kept  clearing 
his  throat  and  trying  to  catch  the  tune  he  had  lost,  pitch- 
ing a  high  note  and  a  low  note;  but  the  marvel  of  this 
laughter  of  the  bird  wakened  me  thorough  ly,  and  I  thanked 
the  bird  in  my  soul,  and  said  to  Goorelka,  "  More  wondrous 
than  their  singing,  this  laughter,  O  Princess !  " 

She  would  not  speak  till  she  had  beaten  every  bird  in 
the  aviary,  and  then  said  in  the  words  of  the  poet: 

Shall  they  that  deal  in  magic  match  degrees  of  wonder  ? 

From  the  bosom  of  one  cloud  comes  the  lightning  and  the  thunder 

Then  said  she,  "O  Noorna!  I  '11  tell  thee  truly  my  intent, 
which  was  to  enchant  thee;  but  I  find  thee  wise,  so  let 
us  join  our  powers,  and  thou  shalt  become  mighty  as  a 
sorceress." 

Now,  Ravaloke  had  said  to  me,  "Her  friendship  is 
fire,  her  enmity  frost;  so  be  cold  to  the  former,  to  the 
latter  hot,"  and  I  dissembled  and  replied,  "Teach  me,  O 
Princess ! " 

So  she  asked  me  what  I  could  do.  Could  I  plant  a 
mountain  in  the  sea  and  people  it?  could  I  anchor  a  pur- 
ple cloud  under  the  sun  and  live  there  a  year  with  them  I 
delighted  in?  could  I  fix  the  eyes  of  the  world  upon  one 
head  and  make  the  nations  bow  to  it ;  change  men  to  birds, 
fishes  to  men ;  and  so  on  —  a  hundred  sorceries  that  I  had 
never  attempted  and  dreamed  not  of.  O  my  betrothed ! 
I  had  never  offended  Allah  by  a  misuse  of  my  powers. 
When  I  told  her,  she  cried,  "Thou  art  then  of  a  surety 
she  that 's  fitted  for  the  custody  of  the  Lily  of  the  Light, 
so  come  with  me." 

Now,  I  had  heard  of  the  Lily,  even  this  thou  boldest  — i 
may  its  influence  be  unwithering !  —  and  desired  to  see  it. 
So  she  led  me  from  the  palace  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and 
flung  a  cockle-shell  on  the  waters,  and  seated  herself  in  it 
with  me  in  her  lap;  and  we  scudded  over  the  waters,  and 
entered  this  Enchanted  Sea,  and  stood  by  the  Lily.  Then, 
I  that  loved  flowers  undertook  the  custody  of  this  one. 


138  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

knowing  not  the  consequences  and  the  depth  of  her  wiles. 
'T  is  truly  said : 

The  orerwiee  themselves  hoodwink, 
For  simple  eyesight  is  a  modest  thing : 

They  on  the  black  abysm's  brink 
Smile,  and  but  when  they  fall  bitterly  think, 
What  difference  'twixt  the  fool  and  me,  Creation's  King  ? 

Nevertheless  for  awhile  nothing  evil  resulted,  and  I  had 
great  joy  in  the  flower,  and  tended  it  with  exceeding 
watchfulness,  and  loved  it,  so  that  I  was  brought  in  my 
heart  to  thank  the  Princess  and  think  well  of  her. 

Now,  one  summer  eve  as  Ravaloke  rested  under  the 
shade  of  his  garden  palm,  and  I  studied  beside  him  great 
volumes  of  magic,  it  happened  that  after  I  had  read  cer- 
tain pages  I  closed  one  of  the  books  marked  on  the  cover 
"  Alif,"  and  shut  the  clasp  louder  than  I  intended,  so  that 
he  who  was  dozing  started  up,  and  his  head  was  in  the 
sloped  sun  in  an  instant,  and  I  observed  the  shadow  of  his 
head  lengthen  out  along  the  grass-plot  towards  the  mossed 
wall,  and  it  shot  up  the  wall,  darkening  it  —  then  drawing 
back  and  lessening,  then  darting  forth  like  a  beast  of  dark- 
ness irritable  for  prey.  I  was  troubled,  for  whatso  is  seen 
while  the  volume  Alif  is  in  use  hath  a  portent ;  but  the 
discovery  of  what  this  might  be  baffled  me.  So  I  deter- 
mined to  watch  events,  and  it  was  not  many  days  ere 
Eavaloke,  who  was  the  leader  of  the  armies  of  the  King 
of  Oolb,  was  called  forth  to  subdue  certain  revolted  tribu- 
taries of  the  King,  and  at  my  entreaty  took  me  with  him, 
and  I  saw  battles  and  encounters  lasting  a  day's  length. 
Once  we  were  encamped  in  a  fruitful  country  by  a  brook 
running  with  a  bright  eye  between  green  banks,  and  I  that 
had  freedom  and  the  password  of  the  camp  wandered  down 
to  it,  and  refreshed  my  forehead  with  its  coolness.  So, 
as  I  looked  under  the  falling  drops,  lo!  on  the  opposite 
bank  the  old  beggar  that  had  given  me  such  fair  return  for 
my  alms  and  Kadrab  his  hump!  I  heard  him  call,  "This 
night  is  the  key  to  the  mystery,"  and  he  was  gone.-  Every 
incantation  I  uttered  was  insufficient  to  bring  him  back. 
Surely,  I  hurried  to  the  tents  and  took  no  sleep,  watching 
zealously  by  the  tent  of  Ravaloke,  crouched  in  its  shadow. 
About  the  time  of  the  setting  of  the  moon  I  heard  foot- 


NOOKNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ  139 

steps  approach  the  tent  within  the  circle  of  the  guard,  and 
it  was  a  youth  that  held  in  his  hand  naked  steel.  When 
he  was  by  the  threshold  of  the  tent,  I  rose  before  him  and 
beheld  the  favourite  of  Ravaloke,  even  the  youth  he  had 
destined  to  espouse  me;  so  I  reproached  him,  and  he  wept, 
denying  not  the  intention  he  had  to  assassinate  Ravaloke, 
and  when  his  soul  was  softened  he  confessed  to  me, 
"'T  was  that  I  might  win  the  Princess  Goorelka,  and  she 
urged  me  to  it,  promising  the  King  would  promote  me  to 
the  vacant  post  of  Ravaloke." 

Then  I  said  to  him,  "Lov'st  thou  Goorelka?  " 

And  he  answered,  "Yea,  though  I  know  my  doom  in 
loving  her;  and  that  it  will  be  the  doom  of  them  now  pip- 
ing to  her  pleasure  and  denied  the  privilege  of  laughter." 

So  I  thought,  "  Oh,  cruel  sorceress!  the  birds  are  men!  " 
And  as  I  mused,  my  breast  melted  with  pity  at  their  de- 
sire to  laugh,  and  the  little  restraint  they  had  upon  them- 
selves notwithstanding  her  harshness;  for  could  they  think 
of  their  changed  condition  and  folly  without  laughter?  and 
ihe  folly  that  sent  them  fresh  mates  in  misery  was  indeed 
matter  for  laughter,  fed  to  fulness  by  constant  meditation 
on  the  perch.  Meantime,  I  uncharmed  the  youth  and  bade 
him  retire  quickly ;  but  as  he  was  going,  he  said,  "  Beware 
of  the  Genie  Karaz!  "  Then  I  held  him  back,  and  after  a 
parley  he  told  me  what  he  had  heard  the  Princess  say, 
and  it  was  that  Karaz  had  seen  me  and  sworn  to  possess 
me  for  my  beauty.  "  Strangely  smiled  Goorelka  when  she 
spake  that,"  said  he. 

Now,  the  City  of  Oolb  fronts  the  sea,  and  behind  it  is  a 
mountain  and  a  wood,  where  the  King  met  Ravaloke  on 
his  return  victorious  over  the  rebels.  So,  to  escape  the 
eye  of  the  King  1  parted  with  Ravaloke,  and  sought  to 
enter  the  city  by  a  circuitous  way;  but  the  paths  wound 
about  and  zigzagged,  and  my  slaves  suffered  nightfall  to 
surprise  us  in  the  entanglements  of  the  wood.  I  sent  them 
in  different  directions  to  strike  into  the  main  path,  retain- 
ing Kadrab  at  the  bridle  of  my  mule;  but  that  creature 
now  began  to  address  me  in  a  familiar  tone,  and  he  said 
something  of  love  for  me  that  enraged  me,  so  that  I  hit 
him  a  blow.  Then  came  from  him  sounds  like  the  neigh- 
ing of  mares,  and  lo!  he  seized  me  and  rose  with  me  in 


140  THE  SHAVING   OF   SH  AGFA'S 

the  air,  and  I  thought  the  very  heavens  were  opening  to 
that  black  beast,  when  on  a  sudden  he  paused,  and  shot 
down  with  me  from  heights  of  the  stars  to  the  mouth  of  a 
cavern  by  the  Putrid  Sea,  and  dragged  me  into  a  cavern 
greatly  illuminated,  hung  like  a  palace  chamber,  and  sup- 
ported on  pillars  of  shining  jasper.  Then  I  fell  upon  the 
floor  in  a  swoon,  and  awaking  saw  Kadrab  no  longer,  but 
in  his  place  a  Genie.  O  my  soul,  thou  hast  seen  him!  —  I 
thought  at  once,  "  't  is  Karaz !  "  and  when  he  said  to  me, 
"  This  is  thy  abode,  0  lady !  and  I  he  that  have  sworn  to 
possess  thee  from  the  hour  I  saw  thee  in  the  chamber  of 
Goorelka,"  then  was  I  certain  't  was  Karaz.  So,  collecting 
the  strength  of  my  soul,  I  said,  in  the  words  of  the  poet: 

Woo  not  a  heart  preoccupied  ! 

What  thorn  is  like  a  loathing  bride  ? 

Mark  ye  the  shrubs  how  they  turn  from  the  sea, 

The  sea's  rough  whispers  shun  ? 
But  like  the  sun  of  heaven  be, 
And  every  flower  will  open  wide. 
Woo  with  the  shining  patience  we 

Beheld  in  heaven's  sun. 

Then  he  sang: 

Exquisite  lady !  name  the  smart 

That  fills'  thy  heart. 
Thou  art  the  foot  and  I  the  worm  : 

Prescribe  the  Term. 

Finding  him  compliant,  I  said,  "  0  great  Genie,  truly  the 
search  of  my  life  has  been  to  discover  him  that  is  my  father, 
and  how  I  was  left  in  the  wilderness.  There 's  no  peace  for 
me,  nor  understanding  the  word  of  love,  till  I  hear  by  whom 
I  was  left  a  babe  on  the  bosom  of  a  dead  mother." 

He  exclaimed ,  and  his  eyes  twinkled,  "  'T  is  that?  that 
shalt  thou  know  in  a  span  of  time.  0  my  mistress,  hast 
thou  seen  the  birds  of  Goorelka?  Thy  father  Feshnavat 
is  among  them,  perched  like  a  bird." 

So  I  cried,  "And  tell  me  how  he  maybe  disenchanted." 

He  said,  "  Swear  first  to  be  mine  unreluctantly." 

Then  I  said,  "What  is  thy  oath?  " 

He  answered,  "I  swear,  when  I  swear,  by  the  Identical." 

Thereupon  I  questioned  him  concerning  the  Identical, 
what  it  was;  and  he,  not  suspecting,  revealed  to  me  the 


NOORNA  AND   THE  GENIE  KARAZ  141 

mighty  hair  in  his  head  BOW  in  the  head  of  Shagpat,  even 
that.  So  I  swore  by  that  to  give  myself  to  the  possessor 
of  the  Identical,  and  flattered  him.  Then  said  he,  "O 
lovely  damsel,  I  am  truly  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the 
Genii;  yet  am  I  in  bondage  to  that  sorceress  Goorelka  by 
reason  of  a  ring  she  holdeth;  and  could  I  get  that  ring 
from  her  and  be  slave  to  nothing  mortal  an  hour,  I  could 
light  creation  as  a  torch,  and  broil  the  inhabitants  of  earth 
at  one  fire." 

I  thought,  "  That  ring  is  known  to  me  !  "  And  he  con- 
tinued, "Surely  I  cannot  assist  thee  in  this  work  other 
than  by  revealing  the  means  of  disenchantment,  and  it  is 
to  keep  the  birds  laughing  uninterruptedly  an  hour;  then 
are  they  men  again,  and  take  the  forms  of  men  that  are 
laughers  —  I  know  not  why." 

So  I  cried,  "T  is  well!  carry  me  back  to  Oolb." 

Then  the  Genie  lifted  me  into  the  air,  and  ceased  not 
speeding  rapidly  through  it,  till  I  was  on  the  roof  of  the 
house  of  Ravaloke.  0  sweet  youth!  moon  of  my  soul! 
from  that  time  to  the  disenchantment  of  Feshnavat,  I 
pored  over  my  books,  trying  experiments  in  magic,  dread- 
ful ones,  hunting  for  talismans  to  countervail  Goorelka; 
but  her  power  was  great,  and  't  was  not  in  me  to  get  her 
away  from  the  birds  one  hour  to  free  them.  On  a  certain 
occasion  I  had  stolen  to  them,  and  kept  them  laughing 
with  stories  of  man  to  within  an  instant  of  the  hour ;  and 
they  were  laughing  exultingly  with  the  easy  happy  laugh 
of  them  that  perceive  deliverance  sure,  when  she  burst  in 
and  beat  them  even  to  the  door  of  death.  I  saw  too  in  her 
eyes,  that  glowed  like  the  eyes  of  wild  cats  in  the  dark, 
she  suspected  me,  and  I  called  Allah  to  aid  the  just  cause 
against  the  sinful,  and  prepared  to  war  with  her. 

Now,  my  desire,  which  was  to  liberate  my  father  and 
his  fellows  in  tribulation,  I  knew  pure,  and  had  no  fear  of 
the  sequel,  as  is  declared: 

Fear  nought  so  much  as  Fear  itself ;  for  arm'd  with  Fear  the  Foe 
Finds  passage  to  the  vital  part,  and  strikes  a  double  blow. 

So  one  day  as  I  leaned  from  my  casement  looking  on  the 
garden  seaward,  I  saw  a  strange  red  and  yellow-feathered 
bird  that  flew  to  the  branch  of  a  citron-tree  opposite,  with 


142  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

a  ring  in  its  beak;  and  the  bird  was  singing,  and  with 
every  note  the  ring  dropped  from  its  bill,  and  it  descended 
swiftly  in  an  arrowy  slant  downward,  and  seized  it  ere 
it  reached  the  ground,  and  commenced  singing  afresh. 
When  I  had  marked  this  to  happen  many  times,  I  thought, 
"How  like  is  this  bird  to  an  innocent  soul  possessed  of 
magic  and  using  its  powers !  Lo,  it  seeketh  still  to  sing 
as  one  of  the  careless,  and  cannot  relinquish  the  ring  and 
be  as  the  careless,  and  between  the  tv/o  there  is  neither 
peace  for  it  nor  pleasure."  Now,  while  my  eyes  were  on 
the  pretty  bird,  dwelling  on  it,  I  saw  it  struck  suddenly 
by  an  arrow  beneath  the  left  wing,  and  the  bird  fluttered 
to  my  bosom  and  dropped  in  it  the  ring  from  its  beak. 
Then  it  sprang  weakly,  and  sought  to  fly  and  soar,  and 
fluttered;  but  a  blue  film  lodged  over  its  eyes,  and  its 
panting  was  quickly  ended.  So  I  looked  at  the  ring  and 
knew  it  for  that  one  I  had  noted  on  the  finger  of  Goorelka. 
Red  blushed  my  bliss,  and  't  was  revealed  to  me  that  the 
bird  was  of  the  birds  of  the  Princess  that  had  escaped  from 
her  with  the  ring.  I  buried  the  bird,  weeping  for  it,  and 
flew  to  my  books,  and  as  I  read  a  glow  stole  over  me.  O 
my  betrothed,  eyes  of  my  soul !  I  read  that  the  possessor 
of  that  ring  was  mistress  of  the  marvellous  hair  which  is 
a  magnet  to  the  homage  of  men,  so  that  they  crowd  and 
crush  and  hunger  to  adore  it,  even  the  Identical !  This 
was  the  power  that  peopled  the  aviary  of  Goorelka,  and 
had  well-nigh  conquered  all  the  resistance  of  my  craft. 

Now,  while  I  read  there  arose  a  hubbub  and  noise  in  the 
outer  court,  and  shrieks  of  slaves.  The  noise  approached 
with  rapid  strides,  and  before  I  could  close  my  books 
Goorelka  burst  in  upon  me,  crying,  "Noorna!  Noorna!" 
Wild  and  haggard  was  her  head,  and  she  rushed  to  my 
books  and  saw  them  open  at  the  sign  of  the  ring:  then 
began  our  combat.  She  menaced  me  as  never  mortal  was 
menaced.  Rapid  lightning-flashes  were  her  transforma- 
tions, and  she  was  a  serpent,  a  scorpion,  a  lizard,  a  lioness 
in  succession,  but  I  leapt  perpetually  into  fresh  rings  of 
fire  and  of  witched  water;  and  at  the  fiftieth  transforma- 
tion, she  fell  on  the  floor  exhausted,  a  shuddering  heap. 
Seeing  that,  I  ran  from  her  to  the  aviary  in  her  palace, 
and  hurried  over  a  story  of  men  to  the  birds,  that  rocked 


NOOKNA  AND   THE   GENIE  KAEAZ  143 

them  on  their  perches  with  chestquakes  of  irresistible 
laughter.  Then  flew  I  back  to  the  Princess,  and  she  still 
puffing  on  the  floor,  commenced  wheedling  and  begging 
the  ring  of  me,  stinting  no  promises.  At  last  she  cried, 
"Girl!  what  is  this  ring  to  thee  without  beauty?  Thj 
beauty  is  in  my  keeping." 

And  I  exclaimed,  "How?  how?  "  smitten  to  the  soul. 

She  answered,  "Yea;  and  I  can  wear  it  as  my  own,  add- 
ing it  to  my  own,  when  thou  'rt  a  hag !  " 

My  betrothed !  I  was  on  the  verge  of  giving  her  the 
ring  for  this  secret,  when  a  violent  remote  laughter  filled 
the  inner  hollow  of  my  ears,  and  it  increased,  till  the 
Princess  heard  it;  and  now  the  light  of  my  casement  was 
darkened  with  birds,  the  birds  of  Goorelka,  laughing  as 
on  a  wind  of  laughter.  So  I  opened  to  them,  and  they 
darted  in,  laughing  all  of  them,  till  I  could  hold  out  no 
longer,  and  the  infection  of  laughter  seized  me,  and  1 
rolled  with  it ;  and  the  Princess,  she  too  laughed  a  hyaena- 
laugh  under  a  cat's  grin,  and  we  all  of  us  remained  in  this 
wise  some  minutes,  laughing  the  breath  out  of  our  bodies, 
as  if  death  would  take  us.  Whoso  in  the  City  of  Oolb 
heard  us,  the  slaves,  the  people,  and  the  King,  laughed, 
knowing  not  the  cause.  This  day  is  still  remembered  in 
Oolb  as  the  day  of  laughter.  Now,  at  a  stroke  of  the  hour 
the  laughter  ceased,  and  I  saw  in  the  chamber  a  crowd  of 
youths  and  elders  of  various  ranks ;  but  their  visages  were 
become  long  and  solemn  as  that  of  them  that  have  seen  a 
dark  experience.  'T  is  certain  they  laughed  little  in  their 
lives  from  that  time,  and  the  muscles  of  their  cheeks  had 
rest.  So  I  caught  down  my  veil,  and  cried  to  the  Prin- 
cess, "My  father  is  among  these;  point  him  out  to  me." 

Ere  she  replied  one  stepped  forth,  even  Feshnavat,  my 
father,  and  called  me  by  name,  and  knew  me  by  a  spot  on 
the  left  arm,  and  made  himself  known  to  me,  and  told  me 
the  story  of  my  dead  mother,  how  she  had  missed  her  way 
from  the  caravan  in  the  desert,  and  he  searching  her 
was  set  upon  by  robbers,  and  borne  on  their  expeditions. 
Nothing  said  he  of  the  sorceries  of  Goorelka,  and  I,  not 
wishing  to  provoke  the  Princess,  suffered  his  dread  to 
exist.  So  I  kissed  him,  and  bowed  my  head  to  him,  and 
she  fled  from  the  sight  of  innocent  happiness.  Theu  took 


144  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

I  the  ring,  and  summoned  Karaz,  and  ordered  him  to  rein* 
state  all  those  princes  and  chiefs  and  officers  in  their  pos- 
sessions and  powers,  on  what  part  of  earth  soever  that 
might  be.  Never  till  I  stood  as  the  Lily  and  thy  voice 
sweetened  the  name  of  love  in  my  ears,  heard  I  aught  of 
delicate  delightf  ulness,  like  the  sound  of  their  gratitude. 
Many  wooed  me  to  let  them  stay  by  me  and  guard  me,  and 
do  service  all  their  lives  to  me;  but  this  I  would  not  al- 
low, and  though  they  were  fair  as  moons,  some  of  them, 
I  responded  not  to  their  soft  glances,  speaking  calmly  the 
word  of  farewell,  for  I  was  burdened  with  other  thoughts. 
Now,  when  the  Genie  had  done  my  bidding,  he  returned 
to  me  joyfully.  My  soul  sickened  to  think  myself  his  by 
a  promise;  but  I  revolved  the  words  of  my  promise,  and 
saw  in  them  a  loophole  of  escape.  So,  when  he  claimed 
me,  I  said,  "Ay!  ay!  lay  thy  head  in  my  lap,"  as  if  my 
mind  treasured  it.  Then  he  lay  there,  and  revealed  to 
me  his  plans  for  the  destruction  of  men.  "Or,"  said  he, 
"  they  shall  be  our  slaves  and  burden-beasts,  for  there  *s 
now  no  restraint  on  me,  now  thou  art  mistress  of  the  ring, 
and  mine."  Thereupon  his  imagination  swelled,  and  he 
saw  his  evil  will  enthroned,  and  the  hopes  of  men  beneath 
his  heel,  crying,  "  And  the  more  I  crush  them  the  thicker 
they  crowd,  for  the  Identical  compelleth  their  very  souls 
to  adore  in  spite  of  distaste." 

Then  said  I,  "Tell  me,  0  Genie!  is  the  Identical  sub- 
servient to  me  in  another  head  save  thine?  " 

He  answered,  "Nay!  in  another  head  'tis  a  counterac- 
tion to  the  power  of  the  King,  the  King  powerless  over  it." 
And  I  said,  "Must  it  live  in  a  head,  the  Identical?" 
Cried  he,  "Woe  to  what  else  holdeth  it!  " 
I  whispered  in  his    hairy  pointed    red    ear,    "Sleep! 
sleep!"  and  lulled  him  with  a  song,  and  he  slept,  being 
weary  with  my  commissioning.     Then  I  bade  Feshnavat, 
my  father,  fetch  me  one  of  my  books  of  magic,  and  read  in 
it  of  the  discovery  of  the  Identical  by  means  of  the  King; 
and  I  took  the  Ring  and  hung  it  on  a  hair  of  my  own  head 
over  the  head  of  the  Genie,  and  saw  one  of  the  thin  lengths 
begin  to  twist  and  dart  and  writhe,  and  shift  lustres  as  a 
creature  in  anguish.     So  I  put  the  Ring  on  my  forefinger, 
and  turned  the  hair  round  and  round  it,  and  tugged.     Lo, 


NOOBNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KAKAZ.  145 

with  a  noise  that  stunned  me,  the  hair  came  out!  0  mj 
betrothed,  what  shrieks  and  roars  were  those  with  whicli 
the  Genie  awoke,  finding  himself  bare  of  the  Identical! 
Oolb  heard  them,  and  the  sea  foamed  like  the  mouth  of 
madness,  as  the  Genie  sped  thunder-like  over  it,  following 
me  in  mid-air.  Such  a  flight  was  that !  Now,  I  found  it 
not  possible  to  hold  the  Identical,  for  it  twisted  and  stung, 
and  was  nigh  slipping  from  me  while  I  flew.  I  saw  white 
on  a  corner  of  the  Desert,  a  city,  and  I  descended  on  it  by 
the  shop  of  a  clothier  that  sat  quietly  by  his  goods  and 
stuffs,  thinking  of  fate  less  than  of  kabobs  and  stews  and 
rare  seasonings.  That  city  hath  now  his  name.  Wullahy, 
had  I  not  then  sown  in  his  head  that  hair  which  he  wear- 
eth  yet,  how  had  I  escaped  Karaz,  and  met  thee?  Won- 
drous are  the  decrees  of  Providence!  Praise  be  to  Allah 
for  them!  So  the  Genie,  when  he  found  himself  baffled 
by  me,  and  Shagpat  with  the  mighty  hair  in  his  head,  the 
Identical,  he  yelled,  and  fetched  Shagpat  a  slap  that  sent 
him  into  the  middle  of  the  street;  but  Kadza  screamed 
after  him,  and  there  was  immediately  such  lamentation  in 
the  city  about  Shagpat,  and  such  tearing  of  hair  about 
him,  that  I  perceived  at  once  the  virtue  that  was  in  the 
Identical.  As  for  Karaz,  finding  his  claim  as  possessor  of 
the  Identical  no  more  valid,  he  vanished,  and  has  been  my 
rebellious  slave  since,  till  thou,  0  my  betrothed,  mad'st 
me  spend  him  in  curing  thy  folly  on  the  horse  Garraveen, 
and  he  escaped  from  my  circles  beyond  the  dominion  of 
the  Ring;  yet  had  he  his  revenge,  for  I  that  was  keeper  of 
the  Lily,  had,  I  now  learned  ruefully,  a  bond  of  beauty 
with  it,  and  whatever  was  a  stain  to  one  withered  the 
other.  Then  that  sorceress  Goorelka  stole  my  beauty  from 
me  by  sprinkling  a  blight  on  the  petals  of  the  fair  flower, 
and  I  became  as  thou  first  saw'st  me.  But  what  am  I  as  1 
now  am?  Blissful!  blissful!  Surely  I  grew  humble  with 
the  loss  of  beauty,  and  by  humility  wise,  so  that  I  assisted 
Feshnavat  to  become  Vizier  by  the  Ring,  and  watched  for 
thy  coming  to  shave  Shagpat,  as  a  star  watcheth ;  for  't  is 
written,  "A  barber  alone  shall  be  shearer  of  the  Identi- 
cal;" and  he  only,  my  betrothed,  hath  power  to  plant  it 
in  Aklis,  where  it  groweth  as  a  pillar,  bringing  due  rever- 
ence to  Aklis. 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT 


,  when  Noorna  bin  Noorka  had  made  an  end  of  hef 
narration,  she  folded  her  hands  and  was  mute  awhile;  and 
to  the  ear  of  Shibli  Bagarag  it  seemed  as  if  a  sweet  instru- 
ment had  on  a  sudden  ceased  luting.  So,  as  he  leaned, 
listening  for  her  voice  to  recommence,  she  said  quickly, 
"Sew  yonder  fire  on  the  mountain's  height!" 

He  looked,  and  saw  a  great  light  on  the  summit  of  a 
lofty  mountain  before  them. 

Then  said  she,  "That  is  Aklis!  and  it  is  ablaze,  know- 
ing a  visitant  near.  Tighten  now  the  hairs  of  Garraveen 
about  thy  wrist;  touch  thy  lips  with  the  waters  of  Para- 
vid;  hold  before  thee  the  Lily,  and  make  ready  to  enter 
the  mountain.  Lo,  my  betrothed,  thou  art  in  possession 
of  the  three  means  that  melt  opposition,  and  the  fault  is 
thine  if  thou  fail." 

He  did  as  she  directed  ;  and  they  were  taken  on  a  tide 
and  advanced  rapidly  to  the  mountain,  so  that  the  waters 
smacked  and  crackled  beneath  the  shell,  covering  it  with 
silver  showering  arches  of  glittering  spray.  Then  the  fair 
beams  of  the  moon  became  obscured,  and  the  twain  red- 
dened with  the  reflection  of  the  fire,  and  the  billows  waxed 
like  riotous  flames  ;  and  presently  the  shell  rose  upon  the 
peak  of  many  waves  swollen  to  one,  and  looking  below, 
they  saw  in  the  scarlet  abyss  of  waters  at  their  feet  a  mon- 
strous fish,  with  open  jaws  and  one  baleful  eye;  and  the 
fish  was  lengthy  as  a  caravan  winding  through  the  desert, 
and  covered  with  fiery  scales.  Shibli  Bagarag  heard  the 
voice  of  Noorna  shriek  aff  rightedly,  "  Karaz  !  "  and  as  they 
were  sliding  on  the  down  slope,  she  stood  upright  in  the 
shell,  pronouncing  rapidly  some  words  in  magic;  and  the 
shell  closed  upon  them  both,  pressing  them  together,  and 
writing  darkness  on  their  very  eyeballs.  So,  while  they 
Were  thus,  they  felt  themselves  gulped  in,  and  borne  for- 


THE  WILES   OF  KABESQURAT  147 

ward  with  terrible  swiftness,  they  knew  not  where,  like 
one  that  hath  a  dream  of  sinking;  and  outside  the  shell  a 
rushing,  gurgling  noise,  and  a  noise  as  of  shouting  multi- 
tudes, and  muffled  multitudes  muttering  complaints  and 
yells  and  querulous  cries,  told  them  they  were  yet  speed- 
ing through  the  body  of  the  depths  in  the  belly  of  the  fish. 
Then  there  came  a  shock,  and  the  shell  was  struck  with 
light,  and  they  were  sensible  of  stillness  without  motion. 
Then  a  blow  on  the  shell  shivered  it  to  fragments,  and 
they  were  blinded  with  seas  of  brilliancy  on  all  sides  from 
lamps  and  tapers  and  crystals,  cornelians  and  gems  of  fiery 
lustre,  liquid  lights  and  flashing  mirrors,  and  eyes  of 
crowding  damsels,  bright  ones.  So,  when  they  had  risen, 
and  could  bear  to  gaze  on  the  insufferable  splendour,  they 
saw  sitting  on  a  throne  of  coral  and  surrounded  by  slaves 
with  scimitars^  a  fair  Queen,  with  black  eyes,  kindlers  of 
storms,  torches  in  the  tempest,  and  with  floating  tresses, 
crowned  with  a  circlet  of  green-spiked  precious  stones  and 
masses  of  crimson  weed  with  flaps  of  pearl ;  and  she  was 
robed  with  a  robe  of  amber,  and  had  saffron  sandals,  loose 
silvery-silken  trousers  tied  in  at  the  ankle,  the  ankle  white 
as  silver;  wonderful  was  the  quivering  of  rays  from  the 
jewels  upon  her  when  she  but  moved  a  finger!  Now,  as 
they  stood  with  their  hands  across  their  brows,  she  cried 
out,  "0  ye  traversers  of  my  sea!  how  is  this,  that  I  am 
made  to  thank  Karaz  for  a  sight  of  ye?" 

And  Noorna  bin  Noorka  answered,  "Surely,  0  Queen 
Rabesqurat,  the  haven  of  our  voyage  was  Aklis,  and  we 
feared  delay,  seeing  the  fire  of  the  mountain  ablaze  with 
expectations  of  us." 

Then  the  Queen  cried  angrily,  "'Tis  well  thou  hadst 
wit  to  close  the  shell,  O  Noorna,  or  there  would  have  been 
delay  indeed.  Say,  is  not  the  road  to  Aklis  through  my 
palace?  And  it  is  the  road  thousands  travel." 

So  Noorna  bin  Noorka  said,  "O  Queen,  this  do  they; 
but  are  they  of  them  that  reach  Aklis?" 

And  the  Queen  cried  violently,  purpling  with  passion, 
"This  to  me!  when  I  helped  ye  to  the  plucking  of  the 
Lily?" 

Now,  the  Queen  muttered  an  imprecation,  and  called 
the  name  "  Abarak ! "  and  lo,  a  door  opened  in  one  of  the 


148  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

pillars  of  jasper  leading  from  the  throne,  and  there  oame 
forth  a  little  man,  humped,  with  legs  like  bows,  and  arms 
reaching  to  his  feet;  in  his  hand  a  net  weighted  with 
leaden  weights.  So  the  Queen  levelled  her  finger  at 
Noorna,  and  he  spun  the  net  above  her  head,  and  dropped 
it  on  her  shoulder,  and  dragged  her  with  him  to  the  pil- 
lar. When  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  that,  the  world  darkened 
to  him,  and  he  rushed  upon  Abarak;  but  Noorna  called 
swiftly  in  his  ear,  "  Wait !  wait !  Thou  by  thy  spells  art 
stronger  than  all  here  save  Abarak.  Be  true !  Remember 
the  seventh  pillar ! "  Then,  with  a  spurn  from  the  hand 
of  Abarak,  the  youth  fell  back  senseless  at  the  feet  of  the 
Queen. 

Now,  with  the  return  of  consciousness  his  hearing  was 
bewitched  with  strange  delicious  melodies,  the  touch  of 
stringed  instruments,  and  others  breathed  into  softly  as 
by  the  breath  of  love,  delicate,  tender,  alive  with  enam- 
oured bashfulness.  Surely,  the  soul  that  heard  them  dis- 
solved like  a  sweet  in  the  goblet,  mingling  with  so  much 
ecstasy  of  sound;  and  those  melodies  filling  the  white  cave 
of  the  ear  were  even  at  once  to  drown  the  soul  in  delight- 
fulness  and  buoy  it  with  bliss,  as  a  heavy-leaved  flower 
is  withered  and  refreshed  by  sun  and  dews.  Surely,  the 
youth  ceased  not  to  listen,  and  oblivion  of  cares  and  aught 
other  in  this  life,  save  that  hidden  luting  and  piping,  pil- 
lowed his  drowsy  head.  At  last  there  was  a  pause,  and  it 
seemed  every  maze  of  music  had  been  wandered  through. 
Opening  his  eyes  hurriedly,  as  with  the  loss  of  the  music 
his  own  breath  had  gone  likewise,  he  beheld  a  garden 
golden  with  the  light  of  lamps  hung  profusely  from 
branches  and  twigs  of  trees  by  the  glowing  cheeks  of 
fruits,  apple  and  grape,  pomegranate  and  quince;  and  he 
was  reclining  on  a  bank  piled  with  purple  cushions,  his 
limbs  clad  in  the  richest  figured  silks,  fringed  like  the 
ends  of  clouds  round  the  sun,  with  amber  fringes.  He 
started  up,  striving  to  recall  the  confused  memory  of  his 
adventures  and  what  evil  had  befallen  him,  and  he  would 
have  struggled  with  the  vision  of  these  glories,  but  it  mas- 
tered him  with  the  strength  of  a  potent  drug,  so  that  the 
very  name  of  his  betrothed  was  forgotten  by  him,  and  he 
itnew  not  whither  he  would,  or  the  thing  he  wished  for. 


THE  WILES  OF  KABESQURAT  149 

Now,  when  he  had  risen  from  the  soft  green  bank  that  was 
his  couch,  lo,  at  his  feet  a  damsel  weeping!  So  he  lifted 
her  by  the  hand,  and  she  arose  and  looked  at  him,  and 
began  plaining  of  love  and  its  tyrannies,  softening  him, 
already  softened.  Then  said  she,  "  What  I  suffer  there  is 
another,  lovelier  than  I,  suffering;  thou  the  cause  of  it,  O 
cruel  youth ! " 

He  said,  "  How,  0  damsel?  what  of  my  cruelty?  Surely, 
I  know  nothing  of  it." 

But  she  exclaimed,  "  Ah,  worse  to  feign  forgetfulness !  " 

Now,  he  was  bewildered  at  the  words  of  the  damsel,  and 
followed  her  leading  till  they  entered  a  dell  in  the  garden 
canopied  with  foliage,  and  beyond  it  a  green  rise,  and  on 
the  rise  a  throne.  So  he  looked  earnestly,  and  beheld 
thereon  Queen  Rabesqurat,  she  sobbing,  her  dark  hair 
pouring  in  streams  from  the  crown  on  her  head.  Seeing 
him,  she  cleared  her  eyes,  and  advanced  to  meet  him  tim- 
idly and  with  hesitating  steps ;  but  he  shrank  from  her, 
and  the  Queen  shrieked  with  grief,  crying,  "Is  there  in 
this  cold  heart  no  relenting?  " 

Then  she  said  to  him  winningly,  and  in  a  low  voice,  "  O 
youth,  my  husband,  to  whom  I  am  a  bride!  " 

He  marvelled,  saying,  "  This  is  a  game,  for  indeed  I  am 
no  husband,  neither  have  I  a  bride  .  .  .  yet  have  I  con- 
fused memory  of  some  betrothal  ..." 

Thereupon  she  cried,  "Said  I  not  so?  and  I  the  be- 
trothed." 

Still  he  exclaimed,  "  I  cannot  think  it !  Wullahy,  it  were 
a  wonder! " 

So  she  said,  "Consider  how  a  poor  youth  of  excellent 
proportions  came  to  a  flourishing  Court  before  one,  a 
widowed  Queen,  and  she  cast  eyes  of  love  on  him,  and 
gave  him  rule  over  her  and  all  that  was  hers  when  he  had 
achieved  a  task,  and  they  were  wedded.  Oh,  the  bliss  of 
it!  Knit  together  with  bond  and  a  writing;  and  these 
were  the  dominions,  I  the  Queen,  woe 's  me!  —  thou  the 
youth!" 

Now,  he  was  wiled  by  the  enchantments  of  the  Queen, 
caught  in  the  snare  of  her  beguilings ;  and  he  let  her  lead 
him  to  a  seat  beside  her  on  the  throne,  and  sat  there 
awhile  in  the  midst  of  f eastings,  mazed,  thinking,  "What 


150  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

life  have  I  lived  before  this,  if  the  matter  be  as  I  behold?*1 
thinking,  "'Tis  true  I  have  had  visions  of  a  widowed 
queen,  and  I  a  poor  youth  that  came  to  her  court,  and  es- 
poused her,  sitting  in  the  vacant  seat  beside  her,  ruling  a 
realm ;  but  it  was  a  dream,  a  dream,  —  yet,  wah !  here  is 
she,  here  am  I,  yonder  my  dominions !  "  Then  he  thought, 
"  I  will  solve  it !  "  So,  on  a  sudden  he  said  to  her  beside 
him,  "0  Queen,  sovereign  of  hearts!  enlighten  me  as  to  a 
perplexity." 

She  answered,  "The  voice  of  my  lord  is  music  in  the 
ear  of  the  bride." 

Then  said  he,  in  the  tone  of  one  doubting  realities,  "  0 
fair  Queen,  is  there  truly  now  such  a  one  as  Shagpat  in 
the  world?" 

She  laughed  at  his  speech  and  the  puzzled  appearance  of 
his  visage,  replying,  "  Surely  there  liveth  one,  Shagpat  by 
name  in  the  world;  strange  is  the  history  of  him,  his 
friends,  and  enemies;  and  it  would  bear  recital." 

Then  he  said,  "  And  one,  the  daughter  of  a  Vizier,  Viz- 
ier to  the  King  in  the  City  of  Shagpat?  " 

Thereat,  she  shook  her  head,  saying,  "  I  know  nought  of 
that  one." 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  was  mindful  of  his  thwackings; 
and  in  this  the  wisdom  of  Noorna  is  manifest,  that  the 
sting  of  them  yet  chased  away  doubts  of  illusion  regarding 
their  having  been,  as  the  poet  says, 

If  thou  wouldst  fix  remembrance  —  thwack ! 

'T  is  that  oblivion  controls ; 
I  care  not  if 't  be  on  the  back, 

Or  on  the  soles. 

He  thought,  "Wah!  yet  feel  I  the  thong,  and  the  hiss  of 
it  as  of  the  serpent  in  the  descent,  and  the  smack  of  it  as 
of  the  mouth  of  satisfaction  in  its  contact  with  tender 
regions.  This,  wullahy!  was  no  dream."  Nevertheless, 
he  was  ashamed  to  allude  thereto  before  the  Queen,  and 
he  said,  "0  my  mistress,  another  question,  one  only!  This 
Shagpat  —  is  he  shaved?  " 

She  said,  "  Clean  shorn !  " 

Quoth  he,  astonished,  grief-stricken,  with  drawn  lips, 
"By  which  hand,  chosen  above  men?" 


THE  WILES   OF   EABESQURAT  151 

And  she  exclaimed,  "  0  thou  witty  one  that  feignest  not 
to  know !  Wullahy !  by  this  hand  of  thine,  0  my  lord  and 
King,  daring  that  it  is;  dexterous!  surely  so!  And  the 
shaving  of  Shagpat  was  the  task  achieved,  —  I  the  dower 
of  it,  and  the  rich  reward." 

Now,  he  was  meshed  yet  deeper  in  the  net  of  her  subtle- 
ties, and  by  her  calling  him  "lord  and  king;"  and  she 
gave  a  signal  for  fresh  entertainments,  exhausting  the  re- 
sources of  her  art,  the  mines  of  her  wealth,  to  fascinate 
him.  Ravishments  of  design  and  taste  were  on  every  side, 
and  he  was  in  the  lap  of  abundance,  beguiled  by  magic, 
caressed  by  beauty  and  a  Queen.  Marvel  not  that  he  was 
dazzled,  and  imagined  himself  already  come  to  the  great 
things  foretold  of  him  by  the  readers  of  planets  and  the 
casters  of  nativities  in  Shiraz.  He  assisted  in  beguiling 
himself,  trusting  wilfully  to  the  two  witnesses  of  things 
visible;  as  is  declared  by  him  of  wise  sayings: 

There  is  in  every  wizard-net  a  hole, 

So  the  entangler  first  must  blind  the  soul. 

And  it  is  again  said  by  that  same  teacher : 

Ye  that  the  inner  spirit's  sight  would  seal, 
Nought  credit  but  what  outward  orbs  reveal. 

And  the  soul  of  Shibli  Bagarag  was  blinded  by  Babesqurat 
in  the  depths  of  the  Enchanted  Sea.  She  sang  to  him, 
luting  deliriously;  and  he  was  intoxicated  with  the  bliss- 
fulness  of  his  fortune,  and  took  a  lute  and  sang  to  her 
love-verses  in  praise  of  her,  rhyming  his  rapture.  Then 
they  handed  the  goblet  to  each  other,  and  drank  till  they 
were  on  fire  with  the  joy  of  things,  and  life  blushed  beau- 
teousness.  Surely,  Rabesqurat  was  becoming  forgetful  of 
her  arts  through  the  strength  of  those  draughts,  till  her 
eye  marked  the  Lily  by  his  side,  which  he  grasped  con- 
stantly, the  bright  flower,  and  she  started  and  said,  "  One 
grant,  O  my  King,  my  husband !  " 

So  he  said  courteously,  "All  grants  are  granted  to  the 
lovely,  the  fascinating;  and  their  grief  will  be  lack  of 
aught  to  ask  for?" 

Then  said  she,  "  0  my  husband,  my  King,  I  am  jealous 


152  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

of  that  silly  flower:  laugh  at  my  weakness,  but  fling  it 
from  thee." 

Now ,  he  was  about  to  cast  it  from  him,  when  a  vanity 
possessed  his  mind,  and  he  exclaimed,  "  See  first  the  thing 
I  will  do,  a  wonder." 

She  cried,  "No  wonders,  my  life!  I  am  sated  with 
them." 

And  he  said,  "  I  am  oblivious,  0  Queen,  of  how  I  came 
by  this  flower  and  this  phial;  but  thou  shalt  hear  a  thing 
beyond  the  power  of  common  magic,  and  see  that  I  am 
something." 

Now,  she  plucked  at  him  to  abstain  from  his  action,  but 
he  held  the  phial  to  the  flower.  She  signed  imperiously 
to  some  slaves  to  stay  his  right  wrist,  and  they  seized  on 
it;  but  not  all  of  them  together  could  withhold  him  from 
dropping  a  drop  into  the  petals  of  the  flower,  and  lo,  the 
Lily  spake,  a  voice  from  it  like  the  voice  of  Noorna,  say- 
ing, "Remember  the  Seventh  Pillar."  Thereat,  he  lifted 
his  eyes  to  his  brows  and  frowned  back  memory  to  his  aid, 
and  the  scene  of  Karaz,  Rabesqurat,  Abarak,  and  his  be- 
trothed was  present  to  him.  So  perceiving  that,  the  Queen 
delayed  not  while  he  grasped  the  phial  to  take  in  her  hands 
some  water  from  a  basin  near,  and  flung  it  over  him,  cry- 
ing, "  Oblivion !  "  And  while  his  mind  was  straining  to 
bring  back  images  of  what  had  happened,  he  fell  forward 
once  more  at  the  feet  of  Rabesqurat,  senseless  as  a  stone 
falls;  such  was  the  force  of  her  enchantments. 

Now,  when  he  awoke  the  second  time  he  was  in  the 
bosom  of  darkness,  and  the  Lily  gone  from  his  hand ;  so 
he  lifted  the  phial  to  make  certain  of  that,  and  groped 
about  till  he  came  to  what  seemed  an  urn  to  the  touch, 
and  into  this  he  dropped  a  drop,  and  asked  for  the  Lily; 
and  a  voice  said,  "I  caught  a  light  from  it  in  passing." 
And  he  came  in  the  darkness  to  a  tree,  and  a  bejewelled 
bank,  and  other  urns,  and  swinging  lamps  without  light, 
and  a  running  water,  and  a  grassy  bank,  and  flowers,  and 
a  silver  seat,  sprinkling  each;  and  they  said  all  in  answer 
to  his  question  of  the  Lily,  "I  caught  a  light  from  it  in 
passing."  At  the  last  he  stumbled  upon  the  steps  of  a 
palace,  and  ascended  them,  endowing  the  steps  with  speech 
is  he  went,  and  they  said,  "The  light  of  it  went  over  us-" 


THE  WILES   OF   RABESQTJRAT  15& 

He  groped  at  the  porch  of  the  palace,  and  gave  the  door  a 
voice,  and  it  opened  on  jasper  hinges,  shrieking,  "The 
light  of  it  went  through  me."  Then  he  entered  a  spacious 
hall,  scattering  drops,  and  voices  exclaimed,  "We  glow 
with  the  light  of  it."  He  passed,  groping  his  way  through 
other  halls  and  dusk  chambers,  scattering  drops,  and  as  he 
advanced  the  voices  increased  in  the  fervour  of  their  re- 
plies, saying  sequently :  "  We  blush  with  the  light  of  it ; 
We  beam  with  the  light  of  it ;  We  burn  with  the  light  of 
it."  So,  presently  he  found  himself  in  a  long  low  room, 
sombrely  lit,  roofed  with  crystals ;  and  in  a  corner  of  the 
room,  lo  !  a  damsel  on  a  couch  of  purple ,  she  white  as  sil- 
ver, spreading  radiance.  Of  such  lustrous  beauty  was  she 
that  beside  her,  the  Princess  Goorelka  as  Shibli  Bagarag 
first  beheld  her,  would  have  paled  like  a  morning  moon; 
even  Noorna  had  waned  as  doth  a  flower  in  fierce  heat; 
and  the  Queen  of  Enchantments  was  but  the  sun  behind  a 
sand-storm,  in  comparison  with  that  effulgent  damsel  on 
the  length  of  the  purple  couch.  Well  for  him  he  wist  of 
the  magic  which  floated  through  that  palace ;  as  is  said, 

Tempted  by  extremes, 

The  soul  is  most  secure : 
Too  vivid  loveliness  blinds  with  its  beams, 
And  eyes  turned  inward  perceive  the  lure. 

Pulling  down  his  turban  hastily,  he  stepped  on  tiptoe  to 
within  arm's  reach  of  her,  and,  looking  another  way,  in- 
clined over  her  soft  vermeil  mouth  the  phial  slowly  till  it 
brimmed  the  neck,  and  dropped  a  drop  of  Paravid  between 
the  bow  of  those  sweet  lips.  Still  not  daring  to  gaze  on 
her,  he  said  then,  "  My  question  is  of  the  Lily,  the  Lily  of 
the  Sea,  and  where  is  it,  0  marvel?  " 

And  he  heard  a  voice  answer  in  the  tones  of  a  silver 
bell,  clear  as  a  wind  in  strung  wires,  "Where  I  lie,  lies 
the  Lily,  the  Lily  of  the  Sea;  I  with  it,  it  with  me." 

Said  he,  "  0  breather  of  music,  tell  me  how  I  may  lay 
hand  on  the  flower  of  beauty  to  bear  it  forth." 

And  he  heard  the  voice,  "An  equal  space  betwixt  my 
right  side  and  my  left,  and  from  the  shoulder  one  spj^ 
and  half  a  span  downward." 

Still  without  power  to  eye  her,  he  measured  the  space 


154  THE   SHAVING  OF    SHAGPAT 

and  the  spans,  his  hand  beneath  the  coverlids  of  the  couch, 
and  at  a  spot  of  the  bosom  his  hand  sank  in,  and  he  felt  a 
fluttering  thing,  fluttering  like  a  frighted  bird  in  the  midst 
of  the  fire.  And  the  voice  said,  "Quick,  seize  it,  and 
draw  it  out,  and  tie  it  to  my  feet  by  the  twines  of  red  silk 
about  it." 

He  seized  it  and  drew  it  out,  and  it  was  a  heart  —  a 
heart  of  blood  —  streaming  with  crimson,  palpitating. 
Tears  flashed  on  his  sight  beholding  it,  and  pity  took  the 
seat  of  fear,  and  he  turned  his  eyes  full  on  her,  crying, 
"0  sad  fair  thing!  O  creature  of  anguish!  O  painful 
beauty !  Oh,  what  have  I  done  to  thee?  " 

But  she  panted,  and  gasped  short  and  shorter  gasps, 
pointing  with  one  finger  to  her  feet.  Then  he  took  the 
warm  living  heart  while  it  yet  leapt  and  quivered  and 
sobbed;  and  he  held  it  with  a  trembling  hand,  and  tied  it 
by  the  red  twines  of  silk  about  it  to  her  feet,  staining  their 
whiteness.  When  that  was  done,  his  whole  soul  melted 
with  pity  and  swelled  with  sorrow,  and  ere  he  could  meet 
her  eyes  a  swoon  overcame  him.  Surely,  when  the  world 
dawned  to  him  a  third  time  in  those  regions  the  damsel 
was  no  longer  there,  but  in  her  place  the  Lily  of  Light. 
He  thought,  "  It  was  a  vision,  that  damsel !  a  terrible  one ; 
one  to  terrify  and  bewilder  !  a  bitter  sweetness  !  Oh,  the 
heart,  the  heart ! "  Keflecting  on  the  heart  brought  to 
his  lids  an  overcharging  of  tears,  and  he  wept  violently 
awhile.  Then  was  he  warned  by  the  thought  of  his  be- 
trothed to  take  the  Lily  and  speed  with  it  from  the  realms 
of  Rabesqurat;  and  he  stole  along  the  halls  of  the  palace, 
and  by  the  plashing  fountains,  and  across  the  magic  courts, 
passing  chambers  of  sleepers,  fair  dreamers,  and  through 
ante-rooms  crowded  with  thick-lipped  slaves.  Lo,  as  he 
held  the  Lily  to  light  him  on,  and  the  light  of  the  Lily 
fell  on  them  that  were  asleep,  they  paled  and  shrank,  and 
were  such  as  the  death-chill  maketh  of  us.  So  he  called 
upon  his  head  the  protection  of  Allah,  and  went  swifter, 
to  chase  from  his  limbs  the  shudder  of  awe;  and  there 
were  some  that  slept  not,  but  stared  at  him  with  fixed 
eyes,  eyes  frozen  by  the  light  of  the  Lily,  and  he  shunned 
those,  for  they  were  like  spectres,  haunting  spirits.  After 
he  had  coursed  the  length  of  the  palace,  he  came  to  a  steep 


THE   WILES   OF  KABESQTJKAT  155 

place  outside  it,  a  rock  with  steps  cut  in  stairs,  and  up 
these  he  went  till  he  came  to  a  small  door  in  the  rock,  and 
lying  by  it  a  bar;  so  he  seized  the  bar  and  smote  the  door, 
and  the  door  shivered,  for  on  his  right  wrist  were  the  hairs 
of  Garraveen.  Bending  his  body,  he  slipped  through  the 
opening,  and  behold,  an  orchard  dropping  blossoms  and 
ripe  golden  fruits,  streams  flowing  through  it  over  sands, 
and  brooks  bounding  above  glittering  gems,  and  long  dewy 
grasses,  profusion  of  scented  flowers,  shade  and  sweetness. 
So  he  let  himself  down  to  the  ground,  which  was  an  easy 
leap  from  the  aperture,  and  walked  through  the  garden, 
holding  the  Lily  behind  him,  for  here  it  darkened  all,  and 
the  glowing  orchard  was  a  desert  by  its  light.  Presently, 
his  eye  fell  on  a  couch  swinging  between  two  almond  trees, 
and  advancing  to  it  he  beheld  the  black-eyed  Queen  gath- 
ered up,  folded  temptingly,  like  a  swaying  fruit;  she  with 
the  gold  circlet  on  her  head,  and  she  was  fair  as  blossom 
of  the  almond  in  a  breeze  of  the  wafted  rose-leaf.  Sweetly 
was  she  gathered  up,  folded  temptingly,  and  Shibli  Baga- 
rag  refrained  from  using  the  Lily,  thinking,  "  'T  is  like 
the  great  things  foretold  of  me,  this  having  of  Queens 
within  the  very  grasp,  swinging  to  and  fro  as  if  to  taunt 
backwardness  !  "  Then  he  thought,  "  'T  is  an  enchantress  ! 
I  will  yet  try  her."  So  he  made  a  motion  of  flourishing 
the  Lily  once  or  twice,  but  forbore,  fascinated,  for  she  had 
on  her  fair  face  the  softness  of  sleep,  her  lips  closed  in 
dimples,  and  the  wicked  fire  shut  from  beneath  her  lids/ 
Mastering  his  mind,  the  youth  at  last  held  the  Lily  to  her, 
and  saw  a  sight  to  blacken  the  world  and  all  bright  things 
with  its  hideousness.  Scarce  had  he  time  to  thrust  the 
Lily  in  his  robes,  when  the  Queen  started  up  and  clapped 
her  hands,  crying  hurriedly,  "  Abarak !  Abarak !  "  and  the 
little  man  appeared  in  a  moment  at  the  door  by  which 
Shibli  Bagarag  had  entered  the  orchard.  So  she  cried 
still,  "Abarak!"  and  he  moved  toward  her.  Then  she 
said,  "How  came  this  youth  here,  prying  in  my  private 
walks,  my  bowers?  Speak!" 

He  answered,  "By  the  aid  of  Garraveen  only,  O  Queen! 
and  there  is  no  force  resisteth  the  bar  so  wielded." 

Rabesqurat  looked  under  her  brows  at  Shibli  Bagarag 
and  saw  the  horror  on  his  face,  and  she  cried  out  to  Abarak 


156  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

in  an  agony,  "Fetch  me  the  mirror!  "  Then  Abarak  ran, 
and  returned  ere  the  Queen  had  drawn  seven  impatient 
breaths,  and  in  one  hand  he  bore  a  sack,  in  the  other  a 
tray:  so  he  emptied  the  contents  of  the  sack  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  tray;  surely  they  were  human  eyes!  and  the 
Queen  flung  aside  her  tresses,  and  stood  over  them.  The 
youth  saw  her  smile  at  them,  and  assume  tender  and  taunt- 
ing manners  before  them,  and  imperious  manners,  killing 
glances,  till  in  each  of  the  eyes  there  was  a  sparkle.  Then 
she  flung  back  her  head  as  one  that  feedeth  on  a  mighty 
triumph,  exclaiming,  "  Yet  am  I  Rabesqurat !  wide  is  my 
sovereignty."  Sideways  then  she  regarded  Shibli  Bagarag, 
and  it  seemed  she  was  urging  Abarak  to  do  a  deed  beyond 
his  powers,  he  frowning  and  pointing  to  the  right  wrist  of 
the  youth.  So  she  clenched  her  hands  an  instant  with 
that  feeling  which  knocketh  a  nail  in  the  coffin  of  a  desire 
not  dead,  and  controlled  herself,  and  went  to  the  youth, 
breaking  into  beams  of  beauty ;  and  an  enchanting  sumptu- 
ousness  breathed  round  her,  so  that  in  spite  of  himself  he 
suffered  her  to  take  him  by  the  hand  and  lead  him  from 
that  orchard  through  the  shivered  door  and  into  the  palace 
and  the  hall  of  the  jasper  pillars.  Strange  thrills  went 
up  his  arm  from  the  touch  of  that  Queen,  and  they  were 
as  little  snakes  twisting  and  darting  up,  biting  poison- 
bites  of  irritating  blissfulness. 

Now,  the  hall  was  spread  for  a  feast,  and  it  was  hung 
with  lamps  of  silver,  strewn  with  great  golden  goblets, 
and  viands,  coloured  meats,  and  ordered  fruits  on  shining 
platters.  Then  said  she  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  "0  youth! 
there  shall  be  no  deceit,  no  guile  between  us.  Thou  art 
but  my  guest,  I  no  bride  to  thee,  so  take  the  place  of  the 
guest  beside  me." 

He  took  his  seat  beside  her,  Abarak  standing  by,  and 
she  helped  the  youth  to  this  dish  and  that  dish,  from  the 
serving  of  slaves,  caressing  him  with  flattering  looks  to 
starve  aversion  and  nourish  tender  fellowship.  And  he 
was  like  one  that  slideth  down  a  hill  and  can  arrest  his 
descent  with  a  foot,  yet  faileth  that  freewill.  When  he 
had  eaten  and  drunk  with  her,  the  Queen  said,  "0  youth, 
no  other  than  my  guest !  art  thou  not  a  prince  in  the  coun- 
try thou  comest  from?" 


THE  WILES   OF  BABESQTJBAT  157 

In  a  moment  the  pride  of  the  barber  forsook  him,  and 
he  equivocated,  saying,  "O  Queen!  there  is  among  the 
stars  somewhere,  as  was  divined  by  the  readers  of  planets, 
a  crown  hanging  for  me,  and  I  search  a  point  of  earth  to 
intercept  its  fall." 

She  marked  him  beguiled  by  vanity,  and  put  sweetmeats 
to  his  mouth,  exclaiming,  "Thy  manners  be  those  of  a 
prince !  "  Then  she  sang  to  him  of  the  loneliness  of  her 
life,  and  of  one  with  whom  she  wished  to  share  her  state, 
—  such  as  he.  And  at  her  signal  came  troops  of  damsels 
that  stood  in  rings  and  luted  sweetly  on  the  same  theme  — 
the  Queen's  loneliness,  her  love.  And  he  said  to  the 
Queen,  "Is  this  so?" 

She  answered,  "  Too  truly  so !  " 

Now,  he  thought,  "She  shall  at  least  speak  the  thing 
that  is,  if  she  look  it  not."  So  he  took  the  goblet,  and 
contrived  to  drop  a  drop  from  the  phial  of  Paravid  therein 
without  her  observing  him ;  and  he  handed  her  the  goblet, 
she  him;  and  they  drank.  Surely,  the  change  that  came 
over  the  Queen  was  an  enchantment,  and  her  eyes  rhot 
lustre,  her  tongue  was  loosed,  and  she  laughed  like  one 
intoxicated,  lolling  in  her  seat,  lost  to  majesty  and  the 
sway  of  her  magic,  crying,  "  0  Abarak !  Abarak !  little 
man,  long  my  slave  and  my  tool;  ugly  little  man!  And 

0  Shibli  Bagarag !   nephew  of  the  barber !   weak  youth ! 
small  prince  of  the  tackle !   have  I  not   nigh   fascinated 
thee?    And  thou  wilt  forfeit  those  two  silly  eyes  of  thine 
to  the  sack.     And,  0  Abarak,  Abarak !  little  man,  have  I 
flattered  thee?     So  fetter  I  the  strong   with   my  allure- 
ments !  and  I  stay  the  arrow  in  its  flight !  and  I  blunt  the 
barb  of  high  intents !     Wah !  I  have  drunk  a  potent  stuff; 

1  talk!      Wullahy!    I  know  there  is  a  danger   menacing 
Shagpat,  and  the  eyes  of  all  Genii  are  fixed  on  him.     And 
if  he  be  shaved,  what  changes  will  follow  !     But 't  is  in 
me  to  delude  the  barber,  wullahy !   and  I  will  avert  the 
calamity.     I  will  save  Shagpat!" 

While  the  Queen  Rabesqurat  prated  in  this  wise  with 
flushed  face,  Shibli  Bagarag  was  smitten  with  the  great- 
ness of  his  task,  and  reproached  his  soul  with  neglect  of 
it.  And  he  thought,  "I  am  powerful  by  spells  as  none 
before  me  have  been,  and  't  was  by  my  weakness  the  Queen 


158  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

sought  to  tangle  me.  I  will  clasp  the  Seventh  Pillar  and 
make  an  end  of  it,  by  Allah  and  his  Prophet  (praised  be 
the  name !) ,  and  I  will  reach  Aklis  by  a  short  path  and 
shave  Shagpat  with  the  sword." 

So  he  looked  up,  and  Abarak  was  before  him,  the  lifted 
nostrils  of  the  little  man  wide  with  the  flame  of  anger. 
And  Abarak  said,  "  0  youth,  regard  me  with  the  eyes  of 
judgement!  Now,  is  it  not  frightful  to  rate  me  little?  — 
an  instigation  of  the  evil  one  to  repute  me  ugly?  " 

The  promptings  of  wisdom  counselled  Shibli  Bagarag  to 
say,  "Frightful  beyond  contemplation,  0  Abarak!  one  to 
shame  our  species !  Surely,  there  is  a  moon  between  thy 
legs,  a  pear  upon  thy  shoulders  and  the  cock  that  croweth 
is  no  match  for  thee  in  measure." 

Abarak  cried,  "  We  be  aggrieved,  we  two !  0  youth, 
son  of  my  uncle,  I  will  give  thee  means  of  vengeance ;  give 
thou  me  means." 

Shibli  Bagarag  felt  scorn  at  the  Queen ,  and  her  hollow- 
ness,  and  he  said,  "'T  is  well;  take  this  Lily  and  hold  it 
to  her." 

"Now,  the  Queen  jeered  Abarak,  and  as  he  approached 
her  she  shouted,  "What!  thou  small  of  build!  mite  of 
creation !  sour  mixture  !  thou  puppet  of  mine !  thou !  com- 
est  thou  to  seek  a  second  kiss  against  the  compact,  know- 
ing that  I  give  not  the  well-favoured  of  mortals  beyond 
one,  a  second?" 

Little  delayed  Abarak  at  this  to  put  her  to  the  test  of 
the  Lily,  and  he  held  the  flower  to  her,  and  saw  the  sight, 
and  staggered  back  like  one  stricken  with  a  shaft.  When 
he  could  get  a  breath  he  uttered  such  a  howl  that  Rabes- 
qurat  in  her  drunkenness  was  fain  to  save  her  ears,  and 
the  hall  echoed  as  with  the  bellows  of  a  thousand  beasts  of 
the  forest.  Then,  to  glut  his  revenge  he  ran  for  the  sack, 
and  emptied  the  contents  of  it,  the  Queen's  mirror,  before 
her;  and  the  sackful  of  eyes,  they  saw  the  sight,  and  sick- 
ened, rolling  their  whites.  That  done,  Abarak  gave  Shibli 
Bagarag  the  bar  of  iron,  and  bade  him  smite  the  pillars, 
all  save  the  seventh;  and  he  smote  them  strengthily, 
crumbling  them  at  a  blow,  and  bringing  down  the  great 
hall  and  its  groves,  and  glasses  and  gems,  lamps ,  traceries , 
devices,  a  heap  of  ruin,  the  seventh  pillar  alone  standing. 


THE  WILES  OF  BABESQTTRAT  159 

Then,  while  he  pumped  back  breath  into  his  body,  Abarak 
said,  "  There  's  no  delaying  in  this  place  now,  O  youth ! 
Say,  hast  thou  spells  for  the  entering  of  Aklis?" 

He  answered,  "  Three  !  " 

Then  said  Abarak,  "  'T  is  well !  Surely  now,  if  thou 
takest  me  in  thy  service,  I  '11  help  thee  to  master  the 
Event,  and  serve  thee  faithfully,  requiring  nought  from 
thee  save  a  sight  of  the  Event,  and  't  is  I  that  myself 
missed  one,  wiled  by  Rabesqurat." 

Quoth  Shibli  Bagarag,  "Thou?" 

He  answered,  "  No  word  of  it  now.     Is  't  agreed?  " 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  "Even  so." 

Thereupon,  the  twain  entered  the  pillar,  leaving  Rabes- 
qurat  prone,  and  the  waves  of  the  sea  bounding  toward 
her  where  she  lay.  Now,  they  descended  and  ascended 
flights  of  slippery  steps,  and  sped  together  along  murky 
passages,  in  which  light  never  was,  and  under  arches  of 
caves  with  hanging  crystals,  groping  and  tumbling  on  hur- 
riedly, till  they  came  to  an  obstruction,  and  felt  an  iron 
door,  frosty  to  the  touch.  Then  Abarak  said  to  Shibli 
Bagarag,  "  Smite  !  "  And  the  youth  lifted  the  bar  to  his 
right  shoulder,  and  smote ;  and  the  door  obeyed  the  blow, 
and  discovered  an  opening  into  a  strange  dusky  land,  as  it 
seemed  a  valley,  on  one  side  of  which  was  a  ragged  copper 
sun  setting  low,  large  as  a  warrior's  battered  shield,  giv- 
ing deep  red  lights  to  a  brook  that  fell,  and  over  a  flat 
stream  a  red  reflection,  and  to  the  sides  of  the  hills  a  dark 
red  glow.  The  sky  was  a  brown  colour;  the  earth  a  deeper 
brown,  like  the  skins  of  tawny  lions.  Trees  with  red- 
dened stems  stood  about  the  valley,  scattered  and  in 
groups,  showing  between  their  leaves  the  cheeks  of  mel- 
ancholy fruits  swarthily  tinged,  and  toward  the  centre  of 
the  valley  a  shining  palace  was  visible,  supported  by  mas- 
sive columns  of  marble  reddened  by  that  copper  sun. 
Shibli  Bagarag  was  awed  at  the  stillness  that  hung  every- 
where, and  said  to  Abarak,  "Where  am  I,  O  Abarak?  the 
look  of  this  place  is  fearful !  " 

And  the  little  man  answered,  "  Where,  but  beneath  the 
mountains  in  Aklis?  Wullahy!  I  should  know  it,  I  that 
keep  the  passage  of  the  seventh  pillar !  " 

Then  the  thought  of  his   betrothed  Noorna,  and  her 


160  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

beauty,  and  the  words,  "Kemember  the  seventh  pillar," 
struck  the  heart  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  he  exclaimed  pas- 
sionately, "Is  she  in  safety?  Noorna,  my  companion,  my 
betrothed,  netted  by  thee,  O  Abarak !  " 

Abarak  answered  sharply,  "Speak  not  of  betrothals  in 
this  place,  or  the  sword  of  Aklis  will  move  without  a 
hand ! " 

But  Shibli  Bagarag  waxed  the  colour  of  the  sun  that 
was  over  them,  and  cried,  "By  Allah!  I  will  smite  thee 
with  the  bar,  if  thou  swear  not  to  her  safety,  and  point 
not  out  to  me  where  she  now  is." 

Then  said  Abarak,  "  Thou  wilt  make  a  better  use  of  the 
bar  by  lifting  it  to  my  shoulder,  and  poising  it,  and  peer- 
ing through  it." 

Shibli  Bagarag  lifted  the  bar  to  the  shoulder  of  Abarak, 
and  poised  it,  and  peered  through  the  length  of  it,  and  lo ! 
there  was  a  sea  tossing  in  tumult,  and  one  pillar  standing 
erect  in  the  midst  of  the  sea;  and  on  the  pillar,  above  the 
washing  waves,  with  hair  blown  back  and  flapping  rai- 
ment, pale  but  smiling  still,  Noorna,  his  betrothed  !  Now, 
when  he  saw  her,  he  made  a  rush  to  the  door  of  the  pas- 
sage ;  but  Abarak  blocked  the  way,  crying,  "  Fool !  a  step 
backward  in  Aklis  is  death  !  " 

And  when  he  had  wrestled  with  him  and  reined  him, 
Abarak  said,  "  Haste  to  reach  the  Sword  from  the  sons  of 
Aklis,  if  thou  wouldst  save  her." 

He  drew  him  to  the  brink  of  the  stream,  and  whistled  a 
parrot's  whistle;  and  Shibli  Bagarag  beheld  a  boat  draped 
with  drooping  white  lotuses  that  floated  slowly  toward 
them;  and  when  it  was  near,  he  and  Abarak  entered  it, 
and  saw  one,  a  veiled  figure,  sitting  in  the  stern,  who 
neither  moved  to  them  nor  spake,  but  steered  the  boat  to  a 
certain  point  of  land  across  the  stream,  where  stood  an 
elephant  ready  girt  for  travellers  to  mount  him;  and  the 
elephant  kneeled  among  the  reeds  as  they  approached,  that 
they  might  mount  him,  and  when  they  had  each  taken  a 
seat,  moved  off,  waving  his  trunk.  Presently  the  elephant 
came  to  a  halt,  and  went  upon  his  knees  again,  and  the  two 
slid  off  his  back,  and  were  among  black  slaves  that  bowed 
to  the  ground  before  them,  and  led  them  to  the  shining 
gates  of  the  palace  in  silence.  Now,  on  the  first  marble 


THE  WILES   OF  KABESQTTKAT  161 

step  of  the  palace  there  sat  an  old  white-headed  man 
dressed  like  a  dervish,  who  held  out  at  arm's  length  a 
branch  of  gold  with  golden  singing-birds  between  its 
leaves,  saying,  "  This  for  the  strongest  of  ye ! " 

Abarak  exclaimed,  "I  am  that  one;  "  and  he  held  forth 
his  hand  for  the  branch. 

But  Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  "  Nay,  't  is  mine.  Wullahy, 
what  has  not  the  strength  of  this  hand  overthrown?" 

Then  the  brows  of  Abarak  twisted;  his  limbs  twitched, 
and  he  bawled,  "  To  the  proof !  "  waking  all  the  echoes  of 
Aklis.  Shibli  Bagarag  was  tempted  in  his  desire  for  the 
golden  branch  to  lift  the  iron  bar  upon  Abarak,  when  lo ! 
the  phial  of  Paravid  fell  from  his  vest,  and  he  took  it  and 
sprinkled  a  portion  of  the  waters  over  the  singing-birds, 
and  in  a  moment  they  burst  into  a  sweet  union  of  voices, 
singing,  in  the  words  of  the  poet : 

When  for  one  serpent  were  two  asses  match  1 

How  shall  one  foe  but  with  wiles  master  doable  ? 

So  let  the  strong  keep  for  ever  good  watch, 

Lest  their  strength  prove  a  snare,  and  themselves  a  mere  babble ; 

For  vanity  maketh  the  strongest  most  weak, 

As  lions  and  men  totter  after  the  struggle. 

Ye  heroes,  be  modest !  while  combats  ye  seek, 

The  canning  one  trippeth  ye  both  with  a  juggle. 

Now,  at  this  verse  of  the  birds  Shibli  Bagarag  fixed  his 
eye  on  the  old  man,  and  the  beard  of  the  old  man  shriv- 
elled; he  waxed  in  size,  and  flew  up  in  a  blaze  and  with  a 
baffled  shout  bearing  the  branch;  surely,  his  features  were 
those  of  Karaz,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  knew  him  by  the 
length  of  his  limbs,  his  stiff  ears,  and  copper  skin.  Then 
he  laughed  a  loud  laugh,  but  Abarak  sobbed,  saying,  "By 
this  know  I  that  I  never  should  have  seized  the  Sword, 
even  though  I  had  vanquished  the  illusions  of  Rabesqurat, 
which  held  me  fast  half-way." 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  stared  at  him,  and  said,  "Wert  thou 
also  a  searcher,  O  Abarak?  " 

But  Abarak  cried,  "Rouse  not  the  talkative  tongue  of 
the  past,  O  youth !  Wullahy  !  relinquish  the  bar  that  is 
my  bar,  won  by  me,  for  the  Sword  is  within  thy  grip,  and 
they  await  thee  up  yonder  steps.  Go  I  go !  and  look  for 
me  here  on  thy  return." 

11 


THE  PALACE  OF  AKLIS 


Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  assured  himself  of  his  three  spells, 
and  made  his  heart  resolute,  and  hastened  up  the  reddened 
marble  steps  of  the  Palace;  and  when  he  was  on  the  top- 
most step,  lo !  one  with  a  man's  body  and  the  head  of  a 
buffalo,  that  prostrated  himself,  and  prayed  the  youth 
obsequiously  to  enter  the  palace  with  the  title  of  King. 
So  Shibli  Bagarag  held  his  head  erect,  and  followed  him 
with  the  footing  of  a  Sultan,  and  passed  into  a  great  hall, 
with  fountains  in  it  that  were  fountains  of  gems,  pearls, 
chrysolites,  thousand-hued  jewels,  and  by  the  margin  of 
the  fountains  were  shapes  of  men  with  the  heads  of  beasts 

—  wolves,  foxes,  lions,  bears,  oxen,  sheep,  serpents,  asses, 

—  that  stretched  their  hands  to  the  falls,  and  loaded  their 
vestments  with  brilliants,  loading  them  without  cessation, 
so  that  from  the  vestments  of  each  there  was  another  pour- 
ing of  the  liquid  lights.     Then  he  with  the  buffalo's  head 
bade   Shibli    Bagarag    help   himself   from  the  falls;  but 
Shibli  Bagarag  refused,  for  his  soul  was  with  Noorna,  his 
betrothed ;  and  he  saw  her  pale  on  that  solitary  pillar  in 
the  tumult  of  the  sea,  and  knew  her  safety  depended  on 
his  faithfulness. 

He  cried,  "The  Sword  of  Aklis!  nought  save  the 
Sword ! " 

Now,  at  these  words  the  fox-heads  and  the  sheep-heads 
and  the  ass-heads  and  the  other  heads  of  beasts  were  lifted 
up,  and  lo  !  they  put  their  hands  to  their  ears,  and  tapped 
their  foreheads  with  the  finger  of  reflection,  as  creatures 
seeking  to  bring  to  mind  a  serious  matter.  Then  the  foun- 
tains rose  higher,  and  flung  jets  of  radiant  jewels,  and  a 
drenching  spray  of  gems  upon  them,  and  new  thirst  aroused 
them  to  renew  their  gulping  of  the  falls,  and  a  look  of 
eagerness  was  even  in  the  eyes  of  the  ass-heads  and  the 
silly  sheep-heads;  surely,  Shibli  Bagarag  laughed  to  see 


THE  PALACE  OF  AKLIS  163 

them !  Now,  when  he  had  pressed  his  lips  to  recover  his 
sight  from  the  dazzling  of  those  wondrous  fountains,  he 
heard  himself  again  addressed  by  the  title  of  King,  and 
there  was  before  him  a  lofty  cock  with  a  man's  head.  So 
he  resumed  the  majesty  of  his  march,  and  followed  the 
fine-stepping  cock  into  another  hall,  spacious,  and  clouded 
with  heavy  scents  and  perfumes  burning  in  censers  and 
urns,  musk,  myrrh,  ambergris,  and  livelier  odours,  glad- 
dening the  nostril  like  wine,  making  the  soul  reel  as  with 
a  draught  of  the  forbidden  drink.  Here,  before  a  feast 
that  would  prick  the  dead  with  appetite,  were  shapes  of 
beasts  with  heads  of  men,  asses,  elephants,  bulls,  horses, 
swine,  foxes,  river-horses,  dromedaries;  and  they  ate  and 
drank  as  do  the  famished  with  munch  and  gurgle,  clack- 
ing their  lips  joyfully.  Shibli  Bagarag  remembered  the 
condition  of  his  frame  when  first  he  looked  upon  the  City 
of  Shagpat,  and  was  incited  to  eat  and  accede  to  the  invi- 
tation of  the  cock  with  the  man's  head,  and  sit  among 
these  merry  feeders  and  pickers  of  mouth-watering  mor- 
sels, when,  with  the  City  of  Shagpat,  lo !  he  had  a  vision 
of  Shagpat,  hairier  than  at  their  interview,  arrogant  in 
hairiness;  his  head  remote  in  contemptuous  waves  and 
curls  and  frizzes,  and  bushy  protuberances  of  hair,  lost  in 
it,  like  an  idolatrous  temple  in  impenetrable  thickets. 
Then  the  yearning  of  the  Barber  seized  Shibli  Bagarag, 
and  desire  to  shear  Shagpat  was  as  a  mighty  overwhelm- 
ing wave  in  his  bosom,  and  he  shouted,  "The  Sword  of 
Aklis !  nought  save  the  Sword !  " 

Now,  at  these  words  the  beasts  with  men's  heads  wagged 
their  tails,  all  of  them,  from  right  to  left,  and  kept  their 
jaws  from  motion,  staring  stupidly  at  the  dishes ;  but  the 
dishes  began  to  send  forth  stealthy  steams,  insidious  whis- 
pers to  the  nose,  silver  intimations  of  savouriness,  so  that 
they  on  a  sudden  set  up  a  howl,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  puck- 
ered his  garments  from  them  as  from  devouring  dogs,  and 
hastened  from  that  hall  to  a  third,  where  at  the  entrance 
a  damsel  stood  that  smiled  to  him,  and  led  him  into  a  vast 
marbled  chamber,  forty  cubits  high,  hung  with  draperies, 
and  in  it  a  hundred  doors;  and  he  was  in  the  midst  of  a 
very  rose-garden  of  young  beauties,  such  as  the  Blest  be- 
hold in  Paradise,  robed  in  the  colours  of  the  rising  and 


164  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

setting  sun ;  plump,  with  long,  black,  languishing,  almond- 
shaped  eyes,  and  undulating  figures.  So  they  cried  to 
him,  "  What  greeting,  0  our  King?  " 

Now,  he  counted  twenty  and  seven  of  them,  and,  fitting 
his  gallantry  to  verse,  answered : 

Poor  are  the  heavens  that  have  not  ye 

To  swell  their  glowing  plenty ; 
Up  there  but  one  bright  moon  I  see, 

Here  mark  I  seven-and-twenty. 

The  damsels  laughed  and  flung  back  their  locks  at  his 
flattery,  sporting  with  him;  and  he  thought,  "These  be 
sweet  maidens !  I  will  know  if  they  be  illusions  like 
Rabesqurat;"  so,  as  they  were  romping,  he  slung  his  right 
arm  round  one,  and  held  the  Lily  to  her,  but  there  was  no 
change  in  her  save  that  she  winked  somewhat  and  her  eyes 
watered;  and  it  was  so  with  the  others,  for  when  they  saw 
him  hold  the  Lily  to  one  they  made  him  do  so  to  them 
likewise.  Then  he  took  the  phial,  and  touched  their  lips 
with  the  waters,  and  lo !  they  commenced  luting  and 
laughing,  and  singing  verses,  and  prattling,  laughing  be- 
tween whiles  at  each  other;  and  one,  a  noisy  one,  with 
long,  black,  unquiet  tresses,  and  a  curved  foot  and  roguish 
ankle,  sang  as  she  twirled : 

My  heart  is  another's,  I  cannot  be  tender ; 
Yet  if  thou  storm  it,  I  fain  must  surrender. 

And  another,  a  fresh-cheeked,  fair-haired,  full-eyed  dam- 
sel, strong  upon  her  instep  and  stately  in  the  bearing  of 
her  shoulders,  sang  shrilly : 

I  'm  of  the  mountains,  and  he  that  comes  to  me 
Like  eagle  must  win,  and  like  hurricane  woo  me. 

And  another,  reclining  on  a  couch  buried  in  dusky  silks, 
like  a  butterfly  under  the  leaves,  a  soft  ball  of  beauty, 
sang  meaningly : 

Here  like  a  fruit  on  the  branch  am  I  swaying ; 
Snatch  ere  I  fall,  love !  there 's  death  in  delaying. 

And  another,  light  as  an  antelope  on  the  hills,  with  ante- 
lope eyes  edged  with  kohl,  a.nd  timid,  graceful  movements, 
and  small,  white,  rounded  ears,  sang 


THE  PALACE   OF  AKLIS  165 

Swiftness  is  mine,  and  I  fly  from  the  sordid ; 
Follow  me,  follow  !  and  you  '11  be  rewarded. 

And  another,  with  large  limbs  and  massive  mould,  that 
stepped  like  a  cow  leisurely  cropping  the  pasture,  and 
shook  with  jewels  amid  her  black  hair  and  above  her 
brown  eyes,  and  round  her  white  neck  and  her  wrists,  and 
on  her  waist,  even  to  her  ankle,  sang  as  with  a  kiss  upon 
every  word : 

Sweet  't  is  in  stillness  and  bliss  to  be  basking ! 
He  who  would  have  me,  may  have  for  the  asking. 

And  another,  with  eyebrows  like  a  bow,  and  arrows  of  fire 
in  her  eyes,  and  two  rosebuds  her  full  moist  parted  pout- 
ing lips,  sang,  clasping  her  hands,  and  voiced  like  the 
tremulous  passionate  bulbul  in  the  shadows  of  the  moon  : 

Love  is  my  life,  and  with  love  I  live  only ; 
Give  me  life,  lover,  and  leave  me  not  lonely. 

And  a  seventh,  a  very  beam  of  beauty,  and  the  perfection 
of  all  that  is  imagined  in  fairness  and  ample  grace  of  ex- 
pression and  proportion,  lo !  she  came  straight  to  Shibli 
Bagarag,  and  took  him  by  the  hand  and  pierced  him  with 
lightning  glances,  singing: 

Were  we  not  destined  to  meet  by  one  planet  1 
Can  a  fate  sever  us  ?  —  can  it,  ah !  can  it  ? 

And  she  sang  tender  songs  to  him,  mazing  him  with  blan- 
dishments, so  that  the  aim  of  existence  and  the  summit  of 
ambition  now  seemed  to  him  the  life  of  a  king  in  that  pal- 
ace among  the  damsels ;  and  he  thought,  "  Wah !  these  be 
no  illusions,  and  they  speak  the  thing  that  is  in  them. 
Wullahy,  loveliness  is  their  portion;  they  call  me  King." 

Then  she  that  had  sung  to  him  said,  "  Surely  we  have 
been  waiting  thee  long  to  crown  thee  our  King!  Thou 
hast  been  in  some  way  delayed,  0  glorious  one !  " 

And  he  answered,  "0  fair  ones,  transcending  in  affabil- 
ity, I  have  stumbled  upon  obstructions  in  my  journey 
hither,  and  I  have  met  with  adventures,  but  of  this  crown- 
ing that  was  to  follow  them  I  knew  nought.  Wullahy, 
thrice  have  I  been  saluted  King;  I  whom  fate  selectetl 


166  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

for  the  Shaving  of  Shagpat,  and  till  now  it  was  a  beguile- 
ment,  all  emptiness." 

They  marked  his  bewildered  state,  and  some  knelt  be- 
fore him,  some  held  their  arms  out  adoringly,  some  leaned 
to  him  with  glistening  looks,  and  he  was  fast  falling  a 
slave  to  their  flatteries,  succumbing  to  them ;  imagination 
fired  him  with  the  splendours  due  to  one  that  was  a  king, 
and  the  thought  of  wearing  a  crown  again  took  possession 
of  his  soul,  and  he  cried,  "  Crown  me,  0  my  handmaidens, 
and  delay  not  to  crown  me 5  for,  as  the  poet  says: 

'  The  king  without  his  crown 
Hath  a  forehead  like  the  clown ; ' 

and  the  circle  of  my  head  itcheth  for  the  symbols  of 
majesty." 

At  these  words  of  Shibli  Bagarag  they  arose  quickly  and 
clapped  their  hands,  and  danced  with  the  nimble  step  of 
gladness,  exclaiming,  "  0  our  King  I  pleasant  will  be  the 
time  with  him !  "  And  one  smoothed  his  head  and  poured 
oil  upon  it;  one  brought  him  garments  of  gold  and  silk  in- 
woven; one  fetched  him  slippers  like  the  sun's  beam  in 
brightness;  others  stood  together  in  clusters,  and  with 
lutes  and  wood-instruments,  low-toned,  singing  odes  to 
him;  and  lo  !  one  took  a  needle  and  threaded  it,  and  gave 
the  thread  into  the  hands  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  with  the 
point  of  the  needle  she  pricked  certain  letters  on  his  right 
wrist,  and  afterwards  pricked  the  same  letters  on  a  door 
in  the  wall.  Then  she  said  to  him,  "  Is  it  in  thy  power  to 
make  those  letters  speak?  " 

He  answered,  "  We  will  prove  how  that  may  be." 
So  he  flung  some  drops  from  the  phial  over  the  letters, 
and  they  glowed  the  colour  of  blood  and  flashed  with  a 
report,  and  it  was  as  if  a  fiery  forked-tongue  had  darted 
before  them  and  spake  the  words  written,  and  they  were, 
"  This  is  the  Crown  of  him  who  hath  achieved  his  aim  and 
resteth  here."  Thereupon,  she  stuck  the  needle  in  the 
door,  and  he  pulled  the  thread,  and  the  door  drew  apart, 
and  lo  !  a  small  chamber,  and  on  a  raised  cushion  of  blue 
satin  a  glittering  crown,  thick  with  jewels  as  a  frost,  such 
as  Ambition  pineth  to  wear,  and  the  knees  of  men  weaken 
and  bend  beholding,  and  it  lanced  light?  •vbout  it  like  a 


THE  PALACE  OF  AKUS  167 

living  sun.  Beside  the  cushion  was  a  vacant  throne,  radi- 
ant as  morning  in  the  East,  ablaze  with  devices  in  gold 
and  geins,  a  seat  to  fill  the  meanest  soul  with  sensations 
of  majesty  and  tempt  dervishes  to  the  sitting  posture. 
Shibli  Bagarag  was  intoxicated  at  the  sight,  and  he 
thought,  "  Wah !  but  if  I  sit  on  this  throne  and  am  a  king, 
with  that  crown  I  can  command  men  and  things !  and  I 
have  but  to  say,  Fetch  Noorna,  my  betrothed,  from  yonder 
pillar  in  the  midst  of  the  uproarious  sea !  —  Let  the  hairy 
Shagpat  be  shaved !  and  behold,  slaves,  thousands  of  them, 
do  my  bidding !  Wullahy,  this  is  greatness  !  "  Now,  he 
made  a  rush  to  the  throne,  but  the  damsels  held  him  back, 
crying,  "  Not  for  thy  life  till  we  have  crowned  thee,  O  our 
master  and  lord  ! " 

Then  they  took  the  crown  and  crowned  him  with  it;  and 
he  sat  upon  the  throne  calmly,  serenely,  like  a  Sultan  of 
the  great  race  accustomed  to  sovereignty,  tempering  the 
awfulness  of  his  brows  with  benignant  glances.  So,  while 
he  sat  the  damsels  hid  their  faces  and  started  some  paces 
from  him,  as  unable  to  bear  the  splendour  of  his  presence, 
and  in  a  moment,  lo !  the  door  closed  between  him  and 
them,  and  he  was  in  darkness.  Then  he  heard  a  voice  of 
the  damsels  cry  in  the  hall,  "The  ninety  and  ninth! 
Peace  now  for  us  and  blissfulness  with  our  lords,  for  now 
all  are  rilled  save  the  door  of  the  Sword,  which  maketh 
the  hundredth."  After  that  he  heard  the  same  voice  say, 
"  Leave  them,  0  my  sisters !  " 

So  he  listened  to  the  noise  of  their  departing,  and  knew 
he  had  been  duped.  Surely  his  soul  cursed  him  as  he  sat 
crowned  and  throned  in  that  darkness !  He  seized  the 
crown  to  dash  it  to  the  earth,  but  the  crown  was  fixed  on 
his  forehead  and  would  not  come  off;  neither  had  he  force 
to  rise  from  the  throne.  Now,  the  thought  of  Noorna,  his 
betrothed,  where  she  rested  waiting  for  him  to  deliver  her, 
filled  Shibli  Bagarag  with  the  extremes  of  anguish;  and 
he  lifted  his  right  arm  and  dashed  it  above  his  head  in  the 
violence  of  his  grief,  striking  in  the  motion  a  hidden  gong 
that  gave  forth  a  burst  of  thunder  and  a  roll  of  bello wings, 
and  lo !  the  door  opened  before  him,  and  the  throne  as  he 
sat  on  it  moved  out  of  the  chamber  into  the  hall  where  he 
had  seen  the  damsels  that  duped  him,  and  on  every  side  oi 


168  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

the  hall  doors  opened;  and  he  marvelled  to  see  men,  old 
and  young,  beardless  and  venerable,  sitting  upon  thrones 
and  crowned  with  crowns,  motionless,  with  eyes  like 
stones  in  the  recesses.  He  thought,  "These  be  other 
dupes  !  Wullahy  !  a  drop  of  the  waters  of  Paravid  upon 
their  lips  might  reveal  mysteries,  and  guide  me  to  the 
Sword  of  my  seeking."  So,  as  he  considered  how  to  get 
at  them  from  the  seat  of  his  throne,  his  gaze  fell  on  a  mir- 
ror, and  he  beheld  the  crown  on  his  forehead  what  it  was, 
bejewelled  asses'  ears  stiffened  upright,  and  skulls  of  mon- 
keys grinning  with  gems!  The  sight  of  that  crowning  his 
head  convulsed  Shibli  Bagarag  with  laughter,  and,  as  he 
laughed,  his  seat  upon  the  throne  was  loosened,  and  he 
pitched  from  it,  but  the  crown  stuck  to  him  and  was  tena- 
cious of  its  hold  as  the  lion  that  pounceth  upon  a  victim. 
He  bowed  to  the  burden  of  necessity,  and  took  the  phial, 
and  touched  the  lips  of  one  that  sat  crowned  on  a  throne 
with  the  waters  in  the  phial;  and  it  was  a  man  of  exceed- 
ing age,  whitened  with  time,  and  in  th,e  long  sweep  of  his 
beard  like  a  mountain  clad  with  snow  from  the  peak  that 
is  in  the  sky  to  the  base  that  slopeth  to  the  valley.  Then 
he  addressed  the  old  man  on  his  throne,  saying,  "  Tell  me, 
O  King!  how  earnest  thou  here?  and  in  search  of  what?" 

The  old  man's  lips  moved,  and  he  muttered  in  deep 
tones,  "When  cometh  he  of  the  ninety-and-ninth  door?" 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  "  Surely  he  is  before  thee,  in 
Aklis." 

And  the  old  man  said,  "Let  him  ask  no  secrets;  but 
when  he  hath  reached  the  Sword  forget  not  to  flash  it  in 
this  hall,  for  the  sake  of  brotherhood  in  adventure." 

After  that  he  would  answer  no  word  to  any  questioning. 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  thought,  "  The  poet  is  right  in  Aklis 
as  elsewhere,  in  his  words : 

'  The  cunning  of  our  oft-neglected  wit 
Doth  best  the  keyhole  of  occasion  lit ; ' 

and  whoso  looketh  for  help  from  others  looketh  the  wrong 
way  in  an  undertaking.  Wah !  I  will  be  bold  and  batter 
at  the  hundredth  door,  which  is  the  door  of  the  Sword." 
So  he  advanced  straightway  to  the  door,  which  was  one  of 
solid  silver,  charactered  with  silver  letters,  and  knocked 
against  it  three  knocks ;  and  a  voice  within  said,  "  What 
spells?  " 

He  answered,  "Paravid;  Garraveenj  and  the  Lily  of 
the  Sea!" 

Upon  that  the  voice  said,  "Enter  by  virtue  of  the 
spells ! "  and  the  silver  door  swung  open,  discovering  a 
deep  pit,  lightened  by  a  torch ,  and  across  it,  bridging  it, 
a  string  of  enormous  eggs,  rocs'  eggs,  hollowed,  and  so 
large  that  a  man  might  walk  through  them  without  stoop- 
ing. At  the  side  of  each  egg  three  lamps  were  suspended 
from  a  claw,  and  the  shell  passage  was  illumined  with 
them  from  end  to  end.  Shibli  Bagarag  thought,  "  These 
eggs  are  of  a  surety  the  eggs  of  the  Roc  mastered  by  Aklis 
with  his  Sword !  "  Now,  as  the  sight  of  Shibli  Bagarag 
grew  familiar  to  the  place,  he  beheld  at  the  bottom  of  the 
pit  a  fluttering  mass  of  blackness  and  two  sickly  eyes  that 
glittered  below.  Then  thought  he,  "Wah!  if  that  be  the 
Roc,  and  it  not  dead,  will  the  bird  suffer  one  to  defile  its 
eggs  with  other  than  the  sole  of  the  foot,  naked?  "  He 
undid  his  sandals  and  kicked  off  the  slippers  given  him  by 
the  damsels  that  had  duped  him,  and  went  into  the  first 
egg  over  the  abyss,  and  into  the  second,  and  into  the  third, 


170  THE  SHAVING   OF  SHAGPAT 

and  into  the  fourth,  and  into  the  fifth.  Surely  the  eggs 
swung  with  him,  and  bent;  and  the  fear  of  their  breaking 
and  he  falling  into  the  maw  of  the  terrible  bird  made  him 
walk  unevenly.  When  he  had  come  to  the  seventh  egg, 
which  was  the  last,  it  shook  and  swung  violently,  and  he 
heard  underneath  the  flapping  of  the  wings  of  the  Roc,  as 
with  eagerness  expecting  a  victim  to  prey  upon.  He  sus- 
tained his  soul  with  the  firmness  of  resolve  and  darted 
himself  lengthwise  to  the  landing,  clutching  a  hold  with 
his  right  hand;  as  he  did  so,  the  bridge  of  eggs  broke,  and 
he  heard  the  feathers  of  the  bird  in  agitation,  and  the  bird 
screaming  a  scream  of  disappointment  as  he  scrambled  up 
the  sides  of  the  pit. 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  failed  not  to  perform  two  prostra- 
tions to  Allah,  and  raised  the  song  of  gratitude  for  his 
preservation  when  he  found  himself  in  safety.  Then  he 
looked  up,  and  lo!  behind  a  curtain,  steps  leading  to  an 
anteroom,  and  beyond  that  a  chamber  like  the  chamber  of 
kings  where  they  sit  in  state  dispensing  judgements,  like 
the  sun  at  noon  in  splendour;  and  in  the  chamber  seven 
youths,  tall  and  comely  young  men,  calm  as  princes  in 
their  port,  each  one  dressed  in  flowing  robes,  and  with  a 
large  glowing  pearl  in  the  front  of  their  turbans.  They 
advanced  to  meet  him,  saying,  "Welcome  to  Aklis,  thou 
that  art  proved  worthy!  JT  is  holiday  now  with  us;  "  and 
they  took  him  by  the  hand  and  led  him  with  them  in  si- 
lence past  fountain-jets  and  porphyry  pillars  to  where  a 
service  with  refreshments  was  spread,  —  meats,  fowls  with 
rice,  sweetmeats,  preserves,  palateable  mixtures,  and  mon- 
uments of  the  cook  s  art,  goblets  of  wine  like  liquid  rubies. 
Then  one  of  the  youths  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  "Thou  hast 
come  to  us  crowned,  0  our  guest !  Now,  it  is  not  our  cus- 
tom to  pay  homage,  but  thou  shalt  presently  behold  them 
that  will,  so  let  not  thy  kingliness  droop  with  us,  but  feast 
royally." 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  "0  my  princes,  surely  it  is  a 
silly  matter  to  crown  a  mouse!  Humility  hath  depressed 
my  stature!  Wullahy,  I  have  had  warning  in  the  stick- 
ing of  this  crown  to  my  brows,  and  it  sticketh  like  an 
abomination." 

They  laughed  at  him,  saying,  "  It  was  the  heaviness  of 


THE   SONS   OF  AKLIS  171 

that  crown  which  overweighted  thee  in  the  bridge  of  the 
abyss,  and  few  be  they  that  bear  it  and  go  not  to  feed  the 
Koc." 

Now,  they  feasted  together,  interchangeing  civilities, 
offering  to  each  other  choice  morsels,  dainties.  And  the 
anecdotes  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  his  simplicity  and  his  hon- 
esty, and  his  vanity  and  his  airiness,  and  the  betraying 
tongue  of  the  barber,  diverted  the  youths;  and  they  plied 
him  with  old  wine  till  his  stores  of  merriment  broke  forth 
and  were  as  a  river  swollen  by  torrents  of  the  mountain ; 
and  the  seven  youths  laughed  at  him,  spluttering  with 
laughter,  lurching  with  it.  Surely,  he  described  to  them 
the  loquacity  of  Baba  Mustapha  his  uncle,  and  they 
laughed  so  that  their  chins  were  uppermost;  but  at  his 
mention  of  Shagpat  greater  gravity  was  theirs,  and  they 
smoothed  their  faces  solemnly,  and  the  sun  of  their  merri- 
ment was  darkened  for  awhile.  Then  they  took  to  fling- 
ing about  pellets  of  a  sugared  preparation,  and  reciting 
verses  in  praise  of  jovial  living,  challenging  to  drink  this 
one  and  that  one,  passing  the  cup  with  a  stanza.  Shibli 
Bagarag  thought,  "  What  a  life  is  this  led  by  these  youths! 
a  fair  one!  'T  is  they  that  be  the  sons  of  Aklis  who 
sharpen  the  Sword  of  Events;  yet  live  they  in  jollity, 
skimming  from  the  profusion  of  abundance  that  which 
floateth!" 

Now,  marking  him  contemplative,  one  of  the  youths 
shouted,  "  The  King  lacketh  homage !  " 

And  another  called,  "Admittance  for  his  people!  " 

Then  the  seven  arose  and  placed  Shibli  Bagarag  on  an 
elevation  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  lo!  a  troop  of  black 
slaves  leading  by  the  collar,  asses,  and  by  a  string,  mon 
keys.  Now,  for  the  asses  they  brayed  to  the  Evil  One, 
and  the  monkeys  were  prankish,  pulling  against  the  string, 
till  they  caught  sight  of  Shibli  Bagarag.  Then  was  it  as 
if  they  had  been  awe-stricken;  and  they  came  forward  to 
him  with  docile  steps,  eyeing  the  crown  on  his  head,  and 
prostrated  themselves,  the  asses  and  the  monkeys,  like 
creatures  in  whom  glowed  the  lamp  of  reason  and  the  gift 
of  intelligence.  So  Shibli  Bagarag  drooped  his  jaw  and 
was  ashamed,  and  he  cried,  "  0  my  princes !  am  I  a  King 
of  these?  " 


172  THE  SHAVING   OF  SHAGPAT 

They  answered,  "A  King  in  mightiness!  Sultan  of  a 
race!" 

So  he  said,  "  It  is  certain  I  shall  need  physic  to  support 
such  a  sovereignty !  And  I  must  be  excused  liberal  allow- 
ances of  old  wine  to  sit  in  state  among  them.  Wullahy  I 
they  were  best  gone  for  awhile.  Send  them  from  me,  O 
my  princes!  I  sicken." 

And  he  called  to  the  animals,  "  Away !  begone ! " 
frowning. 

Then  said  the  youths,  "Well  commanded!  and  like  a 
King!  See,  they  troop  from  thy  presence  obediently." 

Now  the  animals  fled  from  before  the  brows  of  Shibli 
Bagarag,  and  when  the  chamber  was  empty  of  them  the 
seven  young  men  said,  "  Of  a  surety  thou  wert  flattered  to 
observe  the  aspect  of  these  animals  at  beholding  thee." 

But  he  cried,  "Not  so,  0  my  princes;  there  is  nought 
flattering  in  the  homage  of  asses  and  monkeys." 

Then  they  said,  "  0  Sultan  of  asses,  ruler  of  monkeys, 
better  that  than  thyself  an  ass  and  an  ape  I  As  was  said 
by  Shah  Kasirwan,  *  I  prefer  being  king  of  beasts  wor- 
shipped by  beasts,  rather  than  a  crowned  beast  worshipped 
by  men;'  and  it  was  well  said.  Wullahy!  the  kings  of 
Roum  quote  it." 

Now  Shibli  Bagarag  was  not  rendered  oblivious  of  the 
Sword  of  his  quest  by  the  humour  of  these  youths,  or  the 
wine-bibbings,  and  he  exclaimed  while  they  were  turning 
up  the  heels  of  their  cups,  "  0  ye  sons  of  Aklis,  know  that 
I  have  come  hither  for  the  Sword  sharpened  by  your 
hands,  for  the  releasing  of  my  betrothed,  Noorna  bin 
Noorka,  daughter  of  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  and  for  the 
Shaving  of  Shagpat." 

While  he  was  proceeding  to  recount  the  story  of  his 
search  for  the  Sword,  they  said,  "Enough,  0  potentate  of 
the  braying  class  and  of  the  scratching  tribe !  we  have 
seen  thee  through  the  eye  of  Aklis  since  the  time  of  thy 
first  thwacking.  What  says  the  poet?  — 

•  A  day  for  toil  and  a  day  for  rest 
Gives  labour  zeal,  and  pleasure  zest.* 

So,  of  thy  seeking  let  us  hear  to-morrow;  but  now  drink 
with  us,  and  make  merry,  and  touch  the  springs  of  mem- 


THE  SONS   OF  AKLIS  173 

ory ;  spout  forth  verses,  quaint  ones,  suitable  to  the  hour 
and  the  entertainment.  Wullahy  I  drink  with  us !  taste 
life !  Let  the  humours  flow." 

Then  they  made  a  motion  to  some  slaves,  and  presently 
a  clattering  of  anklets  struck  the  ear  of  Shibli  Bagarag : 
and  he  beheld  dancing-girls,  moons  of  beauty  and  elegance, 
and  they  danced  wild  dances,  and  dances  graceful  and 
leopard-like  and  serpent-like  in  movement ;  and  the  youths 
flung  flowers  at  them,  applauding  them.  Then  came  other 
sets  of  dancers  even  lovelier,  more  languishing;  and  again 
others  with  tambourines  and  musical  instruments,  that 
sang  ravishingly.  So  the  senses  of  Shibli  Bagarag  were 
all  taken  with  what  he  saw  and  heard,  and  ate  and  drank ; 
and  by  degrees  a  mist  came  before  his  eyes,  and  the  sweet 
sounds  and  voices  of  the  girls  grew  distant,  and  it  was 
with  difficulty  he  kept  his  back  from  the  length  of  the 
cushions  that  were  about  him.  Then  he  thought  of 
Noorna,  and  that  she  sang  to  him  and  danced,  and  when 
he  rose  to  embrace  her  she  was  Rabesqurat  by  the  light  of 
the  Lily  !  And  he  thought  of  Shagpat,  and  that  in  shav- 
ing him  the  blade  was  checked  in  its  rapid  sweep,  and 
blunted  by  a  stumpy  twine  of  hair  that  waxed  in  size  and 
became  the  head  of  Karaz  that  gulped  at  him  a  wide  de- 
vouring gulp,  and  took  him  in,  and  flew  up  with  him, 
leaving  Shagpat  half  sheared.  Then  he  thought  himself 
struggling  halfway  down  the  throat  of  the  monstrous  Roc, 
and  that,  when  he  was  wholly  inside  the  Roc,  he  was  in 
a  wide-arched  passage  crowded  with  lamps,  and  at  the  end 
of  the  passage  Noorna  in  the  clutch  of  Karaz,  she  shouting, 
"The  Sword,  the  Sword!" 

Now,  while  he  felt  for  the  Sword  wherewith  to  release 
her  from  the  Genie,  his  eyes  opened,  and  he  saw  day 
through  a  casement,  and  that  he  had  reposed  on  an  em- 
broidered couch  in  the  corner  of  a  stately  room  ornamented 
with  carvings  of  blue  and  gold.  So  while  he  wondered  and 
yawned,  gaping,  slaves  started  up  from  the  floor  and  led 
him  to  a  bath  of  coloured  marble,  and  bathed  him  in  per- 
fumed waters,  and  dressed  him  in  a  dress  of  yellow  silk, 
rich  and  ample.  Then  they  paraded  before  him  through 
lesser  apartments  and  across  terraces,  till  they  came  to  a 
great  hall,  loftier  and  more  spacious  than  any  he  had  yet 


174  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

behold,  with  fountains  at  the  two  ends,  and  in  the  centre 
a  tree  with  golden  spreading  branches  and  leaves  of  gold; 
among  the  leaves  gold-feathered  birds,  and  fruits  of  all 
seasons  and  every  description  —  the  drooping  grape  and 
the  pleasant-smelling  quince,  and  the  blood-red  pomegran- 
ate, and  the  apricot,  and  the  green  and  rosy  apple,  and  the 
gummy  date,  and  the  oily  pistachio-nut,  and  peaches,  and 
citrons,  and  oranges,  and  the  plum,  and  the  fig.  Surely, 
they  were  countless  in  number,  melting  with  ripeness, 
soft,  full  to  bursting;  and  the  birds  darted  among  them 
like  sun-flashes.  Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  thought,  "This  is 
a  wondrous  tree !  Wullahy !  there  is  nought  like  it  save 
the  tree  in  the  hall  of  the  Prophet  in  Paradise,  feeding  the 
faithful  I "  As  he  regarded  it  he  heard  his  name  spoken 
in  the  hall,  and  turning  he  beheld  seven  youths  in  royal 
garments,  that  were  like  the  youths  he  had  feasted  with, 
and  yet  unlike  them,  pale,  and  stern  in  their  manners, 
their  courtesy  as  the  courtesy  of  kings.  They  said,  "  Sit 
with  us  and  eat  the  morning's  meal,  0  our  guest!" 

So  he  sat  with  them  under  the  low  branches  of  the  tree ; 
and  they  whistled  the  tune  of  one  bird  and  of  another  bird, 
and  of  another,  and  lo!  those  different  birds  flew  down 
with  golden  baskets  hanging  from  their  bills,  and  in  the 
baskets  fruits  and  viands  and  sweetmeats,  and  cool  drinks. 
And  Shibli  Bagarag  ate  from  the  baskets  of  the  birds, 
watching  the  action  of  the  seven  youths  and  the  difference 
that  was  in  them.  He  sought  to  make  them  recognize  him 
and  acknowledge  their  carouse  of  the  evening  that  was 
past,  but  they  stared  at  him  strangely  and  seemed  offended 
at  the  allusion,  neither  would  they  hear  mention  of  the 
Sword  of  his  seeking.  Presently,  one  of  the  youths  stood 
upon  his  feet  and  cried,  "The  time  for  kings  to  sit  in 
judgement! " 

And  the  youths  arose  and  led  Shibli  Bagarag  to  a  hall 
of  ebony,  and  seated  him  on  the  upper  seat,  themselves 
standing  about  him;  and  lo!  asses  and  monkeys  came  be- 
fore him,  complaining  of  the  injustice  of  men  and  their 
fellows,  in  brays  and  bellows  and  hoots.  Now,  at  the 
sight  of  them  again  Shibli  Bagarag  was  enraged,  and  he 
said  to  the  youths,  "  How!  do  ye  not  mock  me,  0  masters 
of  Aklisl" 


THE  SONS   OF    AKTJS  175 

But  they  said  only,  "  The  burden  of  his  crown  is  for  the 
King." 

He  cooled,  thinking,  "I  will  use  a  spell."  So  he 
touched  the  lips  of  an  animal  with  the  waters  of  Paravid, 
and  the  animal  prated  volubly  in  our  language  of  the  kick 
this  ass  had  given  him,  and  the  jibe  of  that  monkey,  and 
of  his  desire  of  litigation  with  such  and  such  a  beast  for 
pasture;  and  the  others  when  they  spake  had  the  same 
complaints  to  make.  Shibli  Bagarag  listened  to  them 
gravely,  and  it  was  revealed  to  him  that  he  who  ruleth 
over  men  hath  a  labour  and  duties  of  hearing  and  judging 
and  dispensing  judgement  similar  to  those  of  him  who  rul- 
eth over  apes  and  asses.  Then  said  he,  "0  youths,  my 
princes !  methinks  the  sitting  in  this  seat  giveth  a  key  to 
secret  sources  of  wisdom;  and  I  see  what  it  is,  the  glory 
and  the  exaltation  coveted  by  men."  Now,  he  took  from 
the  asses  and  the  monkeys  one,  and  said  to  it,  "Be  my 
chief  Vizier,"  and  to  another,  "Be  my  Chamberlain!  "  and 
to  another,  "Be  my  Treasurer!  "  and  so  on,  till  a  dispute 
arose  between  the  animals,  and  jealousy  of  each  other  was 
visible  in  their  glances,  and  they  appealed  to  him  clamor- 
ously. So  he  said,  "What  am  I  to  ye?" 

They  answered,  "Our  King!  " 

And  he  said,  "  How  so?  " 

They  answered,  "By  the  crowning  of  the  brides  of 
Aklis." 

Then  he  said,  "What  be  ye,  0  my  subjects?" 

They  answered,  "  Men  that  were  searchers  of  the  Sword 
and  plunged  into  the  tank  of  temptation." 

And  he  said,  "How  that?" 

They  answered,  "By  the  lures  of  vanity,  the  blinding  of 
ambition,  and  tasting  the  gall  of  the  Roc." 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  leaned  to  the  seven  youths,  saying, 
"  0  my  princes,  but  for  not  tasting  the  gall  of  the  Roc  I 
might  be  as  one  of  these.  Wullahy!  I  the  King  am 
warned  by  base  creatures."  Then  he  said  to  the  animals, 
"Have  ye  still  a  longing  for  the  crown?  " 

And  they  cried,  all  of  them,  "  0  light  of  the  astonished 
earth,  we  care  for  nought  other  than  it." 

So  he  said,  "And  is  it  known  to  ye  how  to  dispossess 
the  wearer  of  his  burden?" 


176  THE  SHAVING   OP  SHAGPAT 

They  answered,  "By  a  touch  of  the  gall  of  the  Eoc  on 
his  forehead." 

Then  he  lifted  his  arms,  crying,  "Hie  out  of  my  pres- 
ence !  and  whoso  of  ye  fetcheth  a  drop  of  the  gall,  with 
that  one  will  I  exchange  the  crown." 
I  At  these  words  some  moved  hastily,  but  the  most  fal- 
tered, as  doubting  and  incredulous  that  he  would  propose 
such  an  exchange;  and  one,  an  old  monkey,  sat  down  and 
crossed  his  legs,  and  made  a  study  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  as 
of  a  sovereign  that  held  forth  a  deceiving  bargain.  But 
he  cried  again,  "  Hie  and  haste !  as  my  head  is  now  cased 
I  think  it  not  the  honoured  part." 

Then  the  old  monkey  arose  with  a  puzzled  look,  half 
scornful,  and  made  for  the  door  slowly,  turning  his  head 
toward  Shibli  Bagarag  betweenwhiles  as  he  went,  and 
scratching  his  lower  limbs  with  the  mute  reflectiveness 
of  age  and  extreme  caution. 

Now,  when  they  were  gone,  Shibli  Bagarag  looked  in 
the  eyes  of  the  seven  youths,  and  saw  they  were  content 
with  him,  and  his  countenance  was  brightened  with  ap- 
proval. So  he  descended  from  his  seat,  and  went  with 
them  from  the  hall  of  ebony  to  a  court  where  horses  were 
waiting  saddled,  and  slaves  with  hawks  on  their  wrists 
stood  in  readiness ;  and  they  mounted  each  a  horse,  but  he 
loitered.  The  seven  youths  divined  his  feeling,  and  cried 
impatiently,  "  Come !  no  lingering  in  Aklis ! "  So  he 
.mounted  likewise,  and  they  emerged  from  the  palace,  and 
entered  the  hills  that  glowed  under  the  copper  sun,  and 
started  a  milk-white  antelope  with  ruby  spots,  and  chased 
'it  from  its  cover  over  the  sandhills,  a  hawk  being  let  loose 
to  worry  it  and  distress  its  timid  beaming  eyes.  When 
the  creature  was  quite  overcome,  one  of  the  youths  struck 
his  heel  into  his  horse's  side  and  flung  a  noose  over  the 
head  of  the  quarry,  and  drew  it  with  them,  gently  petting 
it  the  way  home  to  the  palace.  At  the  gates  of  the  palace 
it  was  released,  and  lo !  it  went  up  the  steps,  and  passed 
through  the  halls  as  one  familiar  with  them.  Now,  when 
they  were  all  assembled  in  the  anteroom  of  the  hall,  where 
Shibli  Bagarag  had  first  seen  the  seven  youths,  sons  of  Ak- 
lis, in  their  jollity,  one  of  them  said  to  the  Antelope,  "  We 
have  need  of  thee  to  speak  a  word  with  Aklis,  O  our  sister  ! " 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS  177 

So  the  same  youth  requested  the  use  of  the  phial  of 
Paravid,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  applied  it  carefully,  tenderly, 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Antelope.  Then  the  Antelope  spake 
in  a  silver-ringing  voice,  saying,  "What  is  it,  0  my 
brothers?" 

They  answered,  "Thou  knowest  we  dare  not  attempt 
interchange  of  speech  with  Aklis,  seeing  that  we  dis- 
obeyed him  in  visiting  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth:  so  it  is 
for  thee  to  question  him  as  to  the  object  of  this  youthj 
and  it  is  the  Shaving  of  Shagpat." 

So  she  said,  "'T  is  well;  I  wot  of  it." 

Then  she  advanced  to  the  curtain  concealing  the  abyss 
of  the  Hoc  and  the  bridge  of  its  eggs,  and  went  behind 
it.  There  was  a  pause,  and  they  heard  her  say  presently 
in  a  grave  voice,  toned  with  reverence,  "  How  is  it,  0  our 
father?  is  it  a  good  thing  that  thy  Sword  be  in  use  at  this 
season?" 

And  they  heard  the  Voice  answer  from  a  depth,  "'  T  were 
well  it  rust  not!  " 

They  heard  her  say,  "0  our  father  Aklis,  and  we  wish 
to  know  if  the  Shaving  of  Shagpat  be  held  in  favour  by 
thee,  and  thou  sanction  it  with  thy  Sword." 

And  they  heard  the  Voice  answer,  "The  Shaving  of 
Shagpat  is  my  Sword  alone  equal  to,  and  he  that  shaveth 
him  performeth  a  service  to  mankind  ranking  next  my 
vanquishing  of  the  Hoc." 

Then  they  heard  her  say,  "And  it  is  thy  will  we  teach 
him  the  mysteries  of  the  Sword,  and  that  which  may  be 
done  with  it?" 

And  they  heard  the  Voice  answer,  "Even  so  !  " 

After  that  the  Voice  was  still,  and  soon  the  Antelope 
returned  from  behind  the  curtain,  and  the  youths  caressed 
her  with  brotherly  caresses,  and  took  a  circle  of  hands 
about  her,  and  so  moved  to  the  great  Hall  of  the  gorgeous 
Tree,  and  fed  her  from  the  branches.  Now,  while  they 
were  there,  Shibli  Bagarag  advanced  to  the  Antelope,  and 
knelt  at  her  feet,  and  said,  "0  Princess  of  Aklis,  surely  I 
am  betrothed  to  one  constant  as  a  fixed  star,  and  brighter; 
a  mistress  of  magic,  and  innocent  as  the  bleating  lamb; 
and  she  is  now  on  a  pillar,  chained  there,  in  the  midst  of 
the  white  wrathful  sea,  wailing  for  me  to  deliver  hor  with 


178  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

this  Sword  of  my  seeking.  So,  now,  I  pray  thee  help  me 
to  the  Sword  swiftly,  that  I  may  deliver  her." 

The  youths,  her  brothers,  clamoured  and  interposed, 
saying,  "Take  thy  shape  ere  that,  0  Gulrevaz,  our  sister!  " 

But  she  cried,  "He  is  betrothed!  not  till  he  graspeth 
<ihe  Sword.  Tell  him,  the  youth,  our  conditions,  and  for 
what  exchange  the  Sword  is  yielded." 

And  they  said,  "The  conditions  are,  thou  part  with  thy 
spells,  all  of  them,  0  youth !  " 

And  he  said,  "There  is  no  condition  harsh  that  ex- 
changeth  the  Sword;  0  ye  Seven,  I  agree!" 

Then  she  said,  "JT  is  well!  nobility  is  in  the  soul  of 
this  youth.  Go  before  us  now  to  the  Cave  of  Chrysolites, 
0  my  brothers." 

So  these  departed  before,  and  she  in  her  antelope  form 
followed  footing  gracefully,  and  made  Shibli  Bagarag  re- 
peat the  story  of  his  betrothal  as  they  went. 


THE  SWORD   OF  AKLIS 

Now,  when  they  had  made  the  passage  of  many  halls,  built 
of  different  woods,  tilled  with  divers  wonders,  they  de- 
scended a  sloping  vault,  and  came  to  a  narrow  way  in  the 
earth,  hung  with  black,  at  the  end  of  it  a  steadfast  blaze 
like  a  sun,  that  grew  larger  as  they  advanced,  and  they 
heard  the  sea  above  them.  The  noise  of  it,  and  its  plung- 
ing and  weltering  and  its  pitilessness,  struck  on  the  heart 
of  Shibli  Bagarag  as  with  a  blow,  and  he  cried,  "Haste, 
haste,  0  Princess!  perchance  she  is  even  now  calling  to 
me  with  her  tongue,  and  I  not  aiding  her,  delayed  by  the 
temptation  of  this  crown  and  the  guile  of  the  Brides." 

She  checked  him,  and  said,  "  In  Aklis  no  haste !  "  Then, 
she  said,  "  Look !  "  And  lo,  fronting  them  the  single  blaze 
became  two  tires;  and  drawing  nigh,  Shibli  Bagarag  be- 
held them  what  they  were,  angry  eyes  in  the  head  of  a 
great  lion,  a  model  of  majesty,  and  passion  was  in  his 
mane  and  power  was  in  his  forepaws;  so  while  he  lashed 
his  tail  as  a  tempest  whippeth  the  tawny  billows  at  night, 
and  was  lifting  himself  for  a  roar,  she  said,  "A  hair  of 
Garraveen,  and  touch  him  with  it ! " 

Shibli  Bagarag  pushed  up  his  sleeve  and  broke  one  of 
the  three  sapphire  hairs  and  stepped  forward  to  the  lion, 
holding  in  his  right  hand  the  hair  of  vivid  light.  The 
lion  crouched,  and  was  in  the  vigour  of  the  spring  when 
that  hair  touched  him,  and  he  trembled,  tumbling  on  his 
knees  and  letting  the  twain  pass.  So  they  advanced  be- 
yond him,  and  lo !  the  Cave  of  Chrysolites  irradiate  with 
beams,  breaks  of  brilliance,  confluences  of  lively  hues, 
restless  rays,  meeting,  vanishing,  flooding  splendours,  now 
scattered  in  dazzling  joints  and  spars,  now  uniting  in 
momentary  disks  of  radiance.  In  the  centre  of  the  cave 
glowed  a  furnace,  and  round  it  he  distinguished  the  seven 
youths,  swarthier  and  sterner  than  before,  dark  sweat 


180  THE   SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

standing  on  the  brows  of  each.  Their  words  were  brief, 
and  they  wore  each  a  terrible  frown,  saying  to  him,  with- 
out further  salutation,  "Thrust  in  the  flame  of  this  fur- 
nace  thy  right  wrist." 

At  the  same  moment  the  Antelope  said  in  his  ear,  "  Do 
thou  their  bidding,  and  be  not  backward !  In  Aklis  fear 
is  ruin  and  hesitation  a  destroyer." 

He  fixed  his  mind  on  the  devotedness  of  Noorna,  and 
held  his  nether  lip  tightly  between  his  teeth,  and  thrust 
his  right  wrist  in  the  flame  of  the  furnace.  The  wrist 
reddened,  and  became  transparent  with  heat,  but  he  felt 
no  pain,  only  that  his  whole  arm  was  thrice  its  natural 
weight.  Then  the  flame  of  the  furnace  fell,  and  the  seven 
youths  made  him  kneel  by  a  brook  of  golden  waters  and 
dip  his  forehead  up  to  his  eyes  in  the  waters.  Then  they 
took  him  to  the  other  side  of  the  cave,  and  his  sight  was 
strengthened  to  mark  the  glory  of  the  Sword,  where  it 
hung  in  slings,  a  little  way  from  the  wall,  outshining  the 
lights  of  the  cave,  and  throwing  them  back  with  its  supe- 
rior force  and  steadfastness  of  lustre.  Lo !  the  length  of 
it  was  as  the  length  of  crimson  across  the  sea  when  the 
sun  is  sideways  on  the  wave,  and  it  seemed  full  a  mile 
long,  the  whole  blade  sheening  like  an  arrested  lightning 
from  the  end  to  the  hilt;  the  hilt  two  large  live  serpents 
twined  together,  with  eyes  like  sombre  jewels,  and  spark- 
ling spotted  skins,  points  of  fire  in  their  folds,  and  reflec- 
tions of  the  emerald  and  topaz  and  ruby  stones,  studded  in 
the  blood-stained  haft.  Then  the  seven  young  men,  sons 
of  Aklis,  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  "  Surrender  the  Lily  ! " 
And  when  he  had  given  into  their  hands  the  Lily,  they 
said,  "  Grasp  the  handle  of  the  Sword  !  " 

Uow,  he  beheld  the  Sword  and  the  ripples  of  violet  heat 
that  were  breathing  down  it,  and  those  two  venomous  ser- 
pents twined  together,  and  the  size  of  it,  its  ponderous- 
ness;  and  to  essay  lifting  it  appeared  to  him  a  madness, 
but  he  concealed  his  thought,  and,  setting  his  soul  on  the 
safety  of  Noorna,  went  forward  to  it  boldly,  and  piercing 
his  right  arm  between  the  twists  of  the  serpents,  grasped 
the  jewelled  haft.  Surely,  the  Sword  moved  from  the 
slings  as  if  a  giant  had  swayed  it !  But  what  amazed  him 
was  the  marvel  of  the  blade,  for  its  sharpness  was  such 


THE   SWOKD  OF  AKLIS  181 

that  nothing  stood  in  its  way,  and  it  slipped  through 
everything  as  we  pass  through  still  water,  —  the  stone  col- 
umns, blocks  of  granite  by  the  walls,  the  walls  of  earth, 
and  the  thick  solidity  of  the  ground  beneath  his  feet. 
They  bade  him  say  to  the  Sword,  "  Sleep  ! "  and  it  was  no 
longer  than  a  knife  in  the  girdle.  Likewise,  they  bade 
him  hiss  on  the  heads  of  the  serpents,  and  say,  "  Wake  !  " 
and  while  he  held  it  lengthwise  it  shot  lengthening  out. 
Then  they  bade  him  hold  in  one  hand  the  sapphire  hair 
that  conquered  the  lion,  and  with  the  edge  of  the  Sword 
touch  one  point  of  it.  So  he  did  that,  and  it  split  in  half, 
and  the  two  halves  he  also  split;  and  he  split  those  four, 
and  those  eight,  till  the  hairs  were  thin  as  light  and  not 
distinguishable  from  it.  When  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  the 
power  of  the  Sword,  he  exulted  and  cried,  "  Praise  be  to 
the  science  of  them  that  forecast  events  and  the  haps  of 
life  !  "  Now,  in  the  meantime  he  marked  the  youths  take 
those  hairs  of  Garraveen  that  he  had  split,  and  tie  them 
round  the  neck  of  the  Antelope,  and  empty  the  contents  of 
the  phial  down  her  throat;  and  they  put  the  bulb  of  the 
Lily,  that  was  a  heart,  in  her  mouth,  and  she  swallowed  it 
till  the  flower  covered  her  face.  Then  they  took  each  a 
handful  of  the  golden  waters  of  the  brook  flowing  through 
the  cave,  and  flung  the  waters  over  her,  exclaiming,  "  By 
the  three  spells  that  have  power  in  Aklis,  and  by  which 
these  waters  are  a  blessing!" 

In  the  passing  of  a  flash  she  took  her  shape,  and  was  a 
damsel  taller  than  the  tallest  of  them  that  descend  from 
the  mountains,  a  vision  of  loveliness,  with-queenly  brows, 
closed  red  lips,  and  large  full  black  eyes;  her  hair  black, 
and  on  it  a  net  of  amber  strung  with  pearls.  To  look  upon 
her  was  to  feel  the  tyranny  of  love,  love's  pangs  of  alarm 
and  hope  and  anguish;  and  she  was  dressed  in  a  dress  of 
white  silk,  threaded  with  gold  and  sapphire,  showing  in 
shadowy  beams  her  rounded  figure  and  the  stateliness  that 
was  hers.  So  she  ran  to  her  brothers  and  embraced  them, 
calling  them  by  their  names,  catching  their  hands,  ca- 
ressing them  as  one  that  had  been  long  parted  from 
them.  Then,  seeing  Shibli  Bagarag  as  he  stood  trans- 
fixed with  the  javelins  of  loveliness  that  flew  from  her 
on  all  sides,  she  cried:  "What,  0  Master  of  the  Event  I 


182  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

hast  thou  nought  for  the  Sword  but  to  gaze  before  thee  in 
silliness?  " 

Then,  he  said,  "  0  rare  in  beauty !  marvel  of  Aklis  and 
the  world!  surely  the  paradise  of  eyes  is  thy  figure  and 
the  glory  of  thy  face ! " 

But  she  shouted,  "  To  work  with  the  Sword !  Shame  on 
thee !  is  there  not  one,  a  bright  one,  a  miracle  in  faithful- 
ness, that  awaiteth  thy  rescue  on  the  pillar?  " 

And  she  repeated  the  praises  he  had  spoken  of  Noorna 
bin  Noorka,  his  betrothed.  Then  he  grasped  the  Sword 
firmly,  remembering  the  love  of  Noorna,  and  crying,  "  Lead 
me  from  this,  0  ye  sons  of  Aklis,  and  thou,  Princess  Gul- 
revaz,  lead  me,  that  I  may  come  to  her." 

So  they  said,  "Follow  us!  "  and  he  sheathed  the  Sword 
in  his  girdle  with  the  word  "Sleep!  "  and  followed  them, 
his  heart  beating  violently. 


KOOROOKH 

Now,  they  sped  from  the  Cave  of  Chrysolites  by  another 
passage  than  that  by  which  they  entered  it,  and  nothing 
but  the  light  of  the  Sword  to  guide  them.  By  that  light 
Shibli  Bagarag  could  distinguish  glimmering  shapes,  silent 
and  statue-like,  to  the  right  and  the  left  of  them,  their 
visages  hidden  in  a  veil  of  heavy  webs ;  and  he  saw  what 
seemed  in  the  dusk  broad  halls,  halls  of  council,  and  again 
black  pools  and  black  groves,  and  columns  of  crowded 
porticoes,  —  all  signs  of  an  underground  kingdom.  They 
came  to  some  steps  and  mounted  these  severally,  coming 
to  a  platform,  in  the  middle  of  which  leapt  a  fountain,  the 
top  spray  of  it  touched  with  a  beam  of  earth  and  the  air 
breathed  by  men.  Here  he  heard  the  youths  dabble  with 
the  dark  waters,  and  he  discerned  Gulrevaz  tossing  it  in 
her  two  hands,  calling,  "  Koorookh !  Koorookh !  "  Then 
they  said  to  him,  "  Stir  this  fountain  with  the  Sword,  O 
Master  of  the  Event!  "  So  he  stirred  the  fountain,  and 
the  whole  body  of  it  took  a  leap  toward  the  light  that  was 
like  the  shoot  of  a  long  lance  of  silver  in  the  moon's  rays, 
and  lo !  in  its  place  the  ruffled  feathers  of  a  bird.  Then 
the  seven  youths  and  the  Princess  and  Shibli  Bagarag  got 
up  under  its  feathers  like  a  brood  of  water-fowl ;  and  the 
bird  winged  straight  up  as  doth  a  blinded  bee,  ascending, 
and  passing  in  the  ascent  a  widening  succession  of  wind- 
ing terraces,  till  he  observed  the  copper  sun  of  Aklis  and 
the  red  lands  below  it.  Thrice,  in  the  exuberance  of  his 
gladness,  he  waved  the  Sword,  and  the  sun  lost  that  dul- 
ness  on  its  disk  and  took  a  bright  flame,  and  threw  golden 
arrows  everywhere;  and  the  pastures  were  green,  the 
streams  clear,  the  sands  sparkling.  The  bird  flew,  and 
circled,  and  hung  poised  a  moment,  presently  descending 
on  the  roof  of  the  palace.  Now,  there  was  here  a  piece  of 
solid  glass,  propped  on  two  crossed  bars  of  gold,  and  it 


184  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

was  shaped  like  an  eye,  and  might  have  been  taken  for 
one  of  the  eyes  inhabiting  the  head  of  some  monstrous 
Genie.  Shibli  Bagarag  ran  to  it  when  he  was  afoot,  and 
peered  through  it.  Surely,  it  was  the  first  object  of  his 
heart  that  he  beheld  —  Noorna,  his  betrothed,  pale  on  the 
pillar ;  she  with  her  head  between  her  hands  and  her  hair 
scattered  by  the  storm,  as  one  despairing.  Still  he  looked, 
and  he  saw  swimming  round  the  pillar  that  monstrous  fish, 
with  its  sole  baleful  eye,  which  had  gulped  them  both  in 
the  closed  shell  of  magic  pearl ;  and  he  knew  the  fish  for 
Karaz,  the  Genie,  their  enemy.  Then  he  turned  to  the 
Princess,  with  an  imploring  voice  for  counsel  how  to  reach 
her  and  bring  her  rescue ;  but  she  said,  "  The  Sword  is  in 
thy  hands,  none  of  us  dare  wield  it ;  "  and  the  seven  youths 
answered  likewise.  So,  left  to  himself,  he  drew  the  Sword 
from  his  girdle,  and  hissed  on  the  heads  of  the  serpents, 
at  the  same  time  holding  it  so  that  it  might  lengthen  out 
inimitably.  Then  he  leaned  it  over  the  eye  of  the  glass, 
in  the  direction  of  the  pillar  besieged  by  the  billows,  and 
lo !  with  one  cut,  even  at  that  distance,  he  divided  the 
fishy  monster,  and  with  another  severed  the  chains  that 
had  fettered  Noorna ;  and  she  arose  and  smiled  blissfully 
to  the  sky,  and  stood  upright,  and  signalled  him  to  lay 
the  point  of  the  blade  on  the  pillar.  When  he  had  done 
this,  knowing  her  wisdom,  she  put  a  foot  boldly  upon  the 
blade  and  ran  up  it  toward  him,  and  she  was  half-way  up 
the  blade,  when  suddenly  a  kite  darted  down  upon  her, 
pecking  at  her  eyes,  to  confuse  her.  She  waxed  unsteady 
and  swayed  this  way  and  that,  balancing  with  one  arm 
and  defending  herself  from  the  attacks  of  the  kite  with 
another.  It  seemed  to  Shibli  Bagarag  she  must  fall  and 
be  lost;  and  the  sweat  started  on  his  forehead  in  great 
drops  big  as  nuts.  Seeing  that  and  the  agitation  of  his 
limbs,  Gulrevaz  cried,  "0  Master  of  the  Event,  let  us 
hear  it!  " 

But  he  shrieked,  "The  kite!  the  kite!  she  is  running 
up  the  blade,  and  the  kite  is  at  her  eyes !  and  she  sway- 
ing, swaying !  falling,  falling !  " 

So  the  Princess  exclaimed,  "A  kite!  Koorookh  is 
match  for  a  kite !  " 

Then  she  smoothed  the  throat  of  Koorookh,  and  clasped 


KOOROOKH  185 

round  it  a  collar  of  bright  steel,  roughened  with  secret 
characters;  and  she  took  a  hoop  of  gold,  and  passed  the 
bird  through  it,  urging  it  all  the  while  with  one  strange 
syllable ;  and  the  bird  went  up  with  a  strong  whirr  of  the 
wing  till  he  was  over  the  sea,  and  caught  sight  of  Noorna 
tottering  beneath  him  on  the  blade,  and  the  kite  pecking 
fiercely  at  her.  Thereat  he  fluttered  eagerly  a  twinkle  of 
time,  and  the  next  was  down  with  his  beak  in  the  neck  of 
the  kite,  crimsoned  in  it.  Now,  by  the  shouts  and  ex- 
clamations of  Shibli  Bagarag,  the  Princess  and  the  seven 
youths,  her  brothers,  knew  that  the  bird  had  performed 
well  his  task,  and  that  the  fight  was  between  Koorookh 
and  the  kite.  Then  he  cried  gladly  to  them,  "  Joy  for  us, 
and  Allah  be  praised !  The  kite  is  dropping,  and  she 
leaneth  on  one  wing  of  Koorookh ! " 

And  he  cried  in  anguish,  "What  see  I?  The  kite  is 
become  a  white  ball,  rolling  down  the  blade  toward  her; 
and  it  will  of  a  surety  destroy  her."  And  he  called  t& 
her,  thinking  vainly  his  voice  might  reach  her.  So  the 
Princess  said,  "A  white  ball?  't  is  I  that  am  match  for  a 
white  ball ! " 

Now,  ohe  seized  from  the  corner  of  the  palace-roof  a 
bow  and  an  arrow,  and  her  brothers  lifted  her  to  a  level 
with  the  hilt  of  the  Sword,  leaning  on  the  eye  of  glass. 
Then  she  planted  one  foot  on  the  shoulder  of  Shibli  Bag- 
arag as  he  bent  peering  through  the  eye,  and  fitted  the 
arrow  to  a  level  of  the  Sword,  slanting  its  slant,  and  let  it 
fly,  doubling  the  bow.  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  the  ball  roll 
to  within  a  foot  of  Noorna,  when  it  was  as  if  stricken  by 
a  gleam  of  light,  and  burst,  and  was  a  black  cloud  veined 
with  fire,  swathing  her  in  folds.  He  lost  all  sight  of 
Noorna;  and  where  she  had  been  were  vivid  flashes,  and 
then  a  great  flame,  and  in  the  midst  a  red  serpent  and  a. 
green  serpent  twisted  as  in  the  death-struggle.  So  he 
cried,  "  A  red  serpent  and  a  green  serpent !  " 

And  the  sons  of  Aklis  exclaimed,  "A  red  serpent?  'T  is 
we  that  are  match  for  a  red  serpent !  " 

Thereupon  they  descended  steps  through  the  palace- 
roof,  and  while  the  fight  between  those  two  serpents  was 
rageing,  Shibli  Bagarag  beheld  seven  small  bright  birds, 
bee-catchers,  that  entered  the  flame,  bearing  in  their  bills 


186  THE   SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

slips  of  a  herb,  and  hovering  about  the  head  of  the  red 
serpent,  distracting  it.  Then  he  saw  the  red  serpent  hiss 
and  snap  at  one,  darting  out  its  tongue,  and  lo!  on  the 
fork  of  its  tongue  the  little  bird  let  fall  the  slip  of  herb  in 
its  bill,  and  in  an  instant  the  serpent  changed  from  red  to 
yellow  and  from  yellow  to  pale-spotted  blue,  and  from 
that  to  a  speckled  indigo-colour,  writhing  at  every  change, 
and  hissing  fire  from  its  open  jaws.  Meantime  the  green 
serpent  was  released  and  was  making  circles  round  the 
flame,  seeking  to  complete  some  enchantment,  when  sud- 
denly the  whole  scene  vanished,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  again 
beheld  Noorna  steadying  her  steps  on  the  blade,  and  lean- 
ing on  one  wing  of  Koorookh.  She  advanced  up  the  blade, 
coming  nearer  and  nearer;  and  he  thought  her  close,  and 
breathed  quick  and  ceased  looking  through  the  glass. 
When  he  gazed  abroad,  lo !  she  was  with  Koorookh,  on  a 
far  hill  beyond  the  stream  in  outer  Aklis.  So  he  said  to 
the  Princess  Gulrevaz,  "  0  Princess,  comes  she  not  to  me 
here  in  the  palace?  " 

But  the  Princess  shook  her  head,  and  said,  "She  hath 
not  a  spell !  She  waiteth  for  thee  yonder  with  Koorookh. 
Now,  look  through  the  glass  once  more." 

He  looked  through  the  glass,  and  there  on  a  plain,  as 
he  had  first  seen  it  when  Noorna  appeared  to  him,  was  the 
City  of  Shagpat,  and  in  the  streets  of  the  city  a  vast  as- 
sembly, and  a  procession  passing  on,  its  front  banner  sur- 
mounted by  the  Crescent,  and  bands  with  curled  and 
curved  instruments  playing,  and  slaves  scattering  gold  and 
clashing  cymbals,  every  demonstration  and  evidence  of  a 
great  day  and  a  high  occasion  in  the  City  of  Shagpat !  So 
he  peered  yet  keenlier  through  the  glass,  and  behold,  the 
Vizier  Feshnavat,  father  of  Noorna,  walking  in  fetters, 
subject  to  the  jibes  and  evil-speaking  of  the  crowds  of 
people,  his  turban  off,  and  he  in  a  robe  of  drab-coloured 
stuff,  in  the  scorned  condition  of  an  unbeliever.  Shibli 
Bagarag  peered  yet  more  earnestly  through  the  glass  eye, 
and  in  the  centre  of  the  procession,  clad  gorgeously  in 
silks  and  stuffs,  woven  with  gold  and  gems,  a  crown  upon 
his  head,  and  the  appanages  of  supremacy  and  majesty 
about  him,  was  Shagpat.  He  paced  upon  a  yellow  floor- 
ing that  was  unrolled  before  him  from  a  mighty  roll ;  and 


KOOKOOKH  187 

there  were  slaves  that  swarmed  on  all  sides  of  him,  sup- 
porting upon  gold  pans  and  platters  the  masses  of  hair 
that  spread  bushily  before  and  behind,  and  to  the  right 
and  left  of  him.  Truly  the  gravity  of  his  demeanour  ex- 
ceeded that  which  is  attained  by  Sheiks  and  Dervishes 
after  much  drinking  of  the  waters  of  wisdom,  and  fast- 
ing, and  abnegation  of  the  pleasures  that  betray  us  to  folly 
in  this  world !  Now,  when  he  saw  Shagpat,  the  soul  of 
Shibli  Bagarag  was  quickened  to  do  his  appointed  work  upon 
him,  shear  him,  and  release  the  Vizier  Feshnavat.  Desire 
to  shave  Shagpat  was  as  a  salt  thirst  rageing  in  him,  as  the 
dream  of  munching  to  one  that  starveth ;  even  as  the  im- 
pelling of  violent  tempests  to  skiffs  on  the  sea;  and  he 
hungered  to  be  at  him,  crying,  as  he  peered,  "  'T  is  he ! 
even  he,  Shagpat !  " 

Then  he  turned  to  the  Princess  Gulrevaz,  and  said, 
"'Tis  Shagpat,  exalted,  clothed  with  majesty,  0  thou 
morning  star  of  Aklis  !  " 

She  said,  "  Koorookh  is  given  thee,  and  waiteth  to  carry 
ye  both ;  and  for  me  I  will  watch  that  this  glass  send  forth 
a  beam  to  light  ye  to  that  city ;  so  farewell,  0  thou  that 
art  loved!  And  delay  in  nothing  to  finish  the  work  in 
hand." 

Now,  when  he  had  set  his  face  from  the  Princess  he 
descended  through  the  roof  of  the  palace,  and  met  the 
seven  youths  returning,  and  they  accompanied  him  through 
the  halls  of  the  palace  to  that  hall  where  the  damsels  had 
duped  him.  He  was  mindful  of  his  promise  to  the  old; 
man  crowned,  and  flashed  the  Sword  a  strong  flash,  so; 
that  he  who  looked  on  it  would  be  seared  in  the  eyelashes. 
Then  the  doors  of  the  recesses  flew  apart,  eight-and-ninety 
in  number,  and  he  beheld  divers  sitters  on  thrones,  with 
the  diadem  of  asses'  ears  stiffened  upright,  and  monkeys' 
skulls  grinning  with  gems;  they  having  on  each  counte- 
nance the  look  of  sovereigns  and  the  serenity  of  high 
estate.  Shibli  Bagarag  laughed  at  them,  and  he  thought, 
"  Wullahy!  was  I  one  of  these?  I,  the  beloved  of  Noorna, 
destined  Master  of  the  Event ! "  and  he  thought,  "  Of  a 
surety,  if  these  sitters  couid  but  laujrix  at  themselves, 
there  would  be  a  release  for  them,  and  the  crown  would 
topple  off  which  getteth  the  homage  of  asses  and  mon- 


188  THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPA1 

keys  ! "  He  would  have  spoken  to  them,  but  the  sons  of 
Aklis  said,  "They  have  seen  the  flashing  of  the  Sword, 
and  't  were  well  they  wake  not."  As  they  went  from  the 
hall  the  seven  youths  said,  "  Reflect  upon  the  age  of  these 
sitters,  that  have  been  sitting  in  the  chairs  from  three  to 
eleven  generations  back  !  And  they  were  searchers  of  the 
Sword  like  thee,  but  were  duped !  In  like  manner,  the 
hen  sitteth  in  complacency,  but  she  bringeth  forth  and 
may  cackle;  'tis  owing  to  the  aids  of  Noorna  that  thou  art 
not  one  of  these  sitters,  0  Master  of  the  Event !  "  Now, 
they  paced  through  the  hall  of  dainty  provender,  and 
through  the  hall  of  the  jewel-fountains,  coming  to  the  pal- 
ace steps,  where  stood  Abarak  leaning  on  his  bar.  As 
they  advanced  to  Abarak,  there  was  a  clamour  in  the  halls 
behind,  that  gathered  in  noise  like  a  torrent,  and  ap- 
proached, and  presently  the  Master  was  ware  of  a  sharp 
stroke  on  his  forehead  with  a  hairy  finger,  and  then  a 
burn,  and  the  Crown  that  had  clung  to  him  toppled  off; 
surely  it  fell  upon  the  head  of  the  old  monkey,  the  cau- 
tious and  wise  one,  he  that  had  made  a  study  of  Shibli 
Bagarag.  Thereupon  that  monkey  stalked  scornfully  from 
them ;  and  Abarak  cried,  "  0  Master  of  the  Event !  it  was 
better  for  me  to  keep  the  passage  of  the  Seventh  Pillar, 
than  be  an  ape  of  this  order.  Wah !  the  flashing  of  the 
Sword  scorcheth  them,  and  they  scamper." 


THE  VEILED  FIGURE 

VKBILY  there  was  lightning  in  Aklis  as  Shibli  Bagarag 
flashed  the  sword  over  the  clamouring  beasts:  the  shape  of 
the  great  palace  stood  forth  vividly,  and  a  wide  illumina- 
tion struck  up  the  streams,  and  gilded  the  large  hanging 
leaves,  and  drew  the  hills  glimmeringly  together,  and  scat- 
tered fires  on  the  flat  faces  of  the  rocks.  Then  the  seven 
youths  said  quickly,  "Away!  out  of  Aklis,  0  Master  of 
the  Event !  from  city  to  city  of  earth  this  light  is  visible, 
and  men  will  know  that  Fate  is  in  travail,  and  an  Event 
preparing  for  them,  and  Shagpat  will  be  warned  by  the 
portent;  wherefore  lose  not  the  happy  point  of  time  on 
which  thy  star  is  manifest."  And  they  cried  again, 
"  Away  !  out  of  Aklis  !  "  with  gestures  of  impatience,  urg- 
ing his  departure. 

Then  said  he,  "0  youths,  Sons  of  Aklis,  it  is  written 
that  gratitude  is  the  poor  man's  mine  of  wealth,  and  the 
rich  man's  flower  of  beauty;  and  I  have  but  that  to  give 
ye  for  all  this  aid  and  friendliness  of  yours." 

But  they  exclaimed,  "No  aid  or  friendliness  in  Aklis! 
By  the  gall  of  the  Koc!  it  is  well  for  thee  thou  earnest 
armed  with  potent  spells,  and  hadst  one  to  advise  and  in- 
spirit thee,  or  thou  wouldst  have  stayed  here  to  people 
Aklis,  and  grazed  in  a  strange  shape." 

Now,  the  seven  waxed  in  impatience,  and  he  laid  their 
hands  upon  his  head  and  moved  from  them  with  Abarak, 
to  where  in  the  dusk  the  elephant  that  had  brought  them 
stood.  Then  the  elephant  kneeled  and  took  the  twain 
upon  his  back,  and  bore  them  across  the  dark  land  to  that 
reach  of  the  river  where  the  boat  was  moored  in  readiness. 
They  entered  the  boat  silently  among  its  drapery  of  lo- 
tuses, and  the  Veiled  Figure  ferried  them  over  the  stream 
that  rippled  not  with  their  motion.  As  they  were  cross- 
ing, desire  to  know  that  Veiled  Figure  counselled  Shibli 


190  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

Bagarag  evilly  to  draw  the  Sword  again,  and  flash  it,  so 
that  the  veil  became  transparent.  Then,  when  Abarak 
turned  to  him  for  the  reason  of  the  flashing  of  the  Sword, 
he  beheld  the  eyes  of  the  youth  fixed  in  horror,  glaring  as 
at  sights  beyond  the  tomb.  He  said  nought,  but  as  the 
boat's-head  whispered  among  the  reeds  and  long  flowers  of 
the  opposite  marge,  he  took  Shibli  Bagarag  by  the  shoul- 
ders and  pushed  him  out  of  the  boat,  and  leaped  out  like- 
wise, leading  him  from  the  marge  forcibly,  hurrying  him 
forward  from  it,  he  at  the  heels  of  the  youth  propelling 
him,  and  crying  in  out-of -breath  voice  at  intervals,  "  What 
sight?  what  sight? "  But  the  youth  was  powerless  of 
speech,  and  when  at  last  he  opened  his  lips,  the  little  man 
shrank  from  him,  for  he  laughed  as  do  the  insane,  a  peal 
of  laughter  ended  by  gasps ;  then  a  louder  peal,  presently 
softer;  then  a  peal  that  started  all  the  echoes  in  Aklis. 
After  awhile,  as  Abarak  still  cried  in  his  ear,  "What 
sight?  "  he  looked  at  him  with  a  large  eye,  saying  queru- 
lously, "Is  it  written  I  shall  be  pushed  by  the  shoul- 
der through  life?  And  is  it  in  the  pursuit  of  further 
thwackings?" 

Abarak  heeded  him  not,  crying  still,  "What  sight?" 
and  Shibli  Bagarag  lowered  his  tone,  and  jerked  his  body, 
pronouncing  the  name  "  Rabesqurat !  "  Then  Abarak  ex- 
claimed, "  'T  is  as  I  weened.  Oh,  fool !  to  flash  the  Sword 
and  peer  through  the  veil !  Truly,  there  be  few  wits  will 
bear  that  sight ! "  On  a  sudden  he  cried,  "  No  cure  but 
one,  and  that  a  sleep  in  the  bosom  of  the  betrothed ! " 

Thereupon  he  hurried  the  youth  yet  faster  across  the 
dark  lawns  of  Aklis  toward  the  passage  of  the  Seventh 
Pillar,  by  which  the  twain  had  entered  that  kingdom.  And 
Shibli  Bagarag  saw  as  in  a  dream  the  shattered  door,  shat- 
tered by  the  bar,  remembering  dimly  as  a  thing  distant  in 
years  the  netting  of  the  Queen,  and  Noorna  chained  upon 
the  pillar;  he  remembered  Shagpat  even  vacantly  in  his 
mind,  as  one  sheaf  of  barley  amid  other  sheaves  of  the 
bearded  field,  so  was  he  overcome  by  the  awfulness  of  that 
sight  behind  the  veil  of  the  Veiled  Figure ! 

As  they  advanced  to  the  passage,  he  was  aware  of  an 
impediment  to  its  entrance,  as  it  had  been  a  wall  of  stone 
there;  and  seeing  Abarak  enter  the  passage  without  let, 


THE  VEILED  FIGURE  191 

he  kicked  hard  in  front  at  the  invisible  obstruction,  but 
there  was  no  coming  by.  Abarak  returned  to  him,  and 
took  his  right  arm,  and  raised  the  sleeve  from  his  wrist, 
and  lo,  the  two  remaining  hairs  of  Garraveen  twisted  round 
it  in  sapphire  winds!  Cried  he,  "Oh,  the  generosity  of 
Gulrevaz !  she  has  left  these  two  hairs  that  he  may  accom- 
plish swiftly  the  destiny  marked  for  him !  but  now,  since 
his  gazing  through  that  veil,  he  must  part  with  them  to 
get  out  of  Aklis."  And  he  muttered,  "His  star  is  a 
strange  one !  one  that  leadeth  him  to  fortune  by  the  path 
of  frowns !  to  greatness  by  the  aid  of  thwackings !  Truly 
the  ways  of  Allah  are  wonderful!  "  Shibli  Bagarag  re- 
sisted him  in  nothing,  and  Abarak  loosed  the  two  bright 
hairs  from  his  wrist,  and  those  two  hairs  swelled  and  took 
glittering  scales,  and  were  sapphire  snakes  with  wings  of 
intense  emerald;  and  they  rose  in  the  air  spirally  together, 
each  over  each,  so  that  to  see  them  one  would  fancy  in  the 
darkness  a  fountain  of  sapphire  waters  flashed  with  the 
sheen  of  emerald.  When  they  had  reached  a  height  loftier 
than  the  topmost  palace-towers  of  Aklis,  they  descended 
like  javelins  into  the  earth,  and  in  a  moment  re-appeared, 
in  the  shape  of  Genii  when  they  are  charitably  disposed  to 
them  they  visit;  not  much  above  the  mortal  size,  nor  over- 
bright,  save  for  a  certain  fire  in  their  eyes  when  they 
turned  them;  and  they  were  clothed  each  from  head  to 
foot  in  an  armour  of  sapphire  plates  shot  with  steely  em- 
erald. Surely  the  dragon-fly  that  darteth  all  day  in  the 
blaze  over  pools  is  like  what  they  were.  Abarak  bit  his 
forefinger  and  said,  "Who  be  ye,  0  sons  of  brilliance? " 

They  answered,  "Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh,  slaves  of 
the  Sword." 

Then  he  said,  "Come  with  us  now,  0  slaves  of  the 
Sword,  and  help  us  to  the  mountain  of  outer  Aklis." 

They  answered,  "  0  thou,  there  be  but  two  means  for  us 
of  quitting  Aklis :  on  the  wrist  of  the  Master,  or  down  the 
blade  of  the  Sword!  and  from  the  wrist  of  the  Master  we 
have  been  loosed,  and  no  one  of  thy  race  can  tie  us  to  it 
again." 

Abarak  said,  "How  then  shall  the  Master  leave  Aklis? " 

They  answered,  "  By  Allah  in  Aklis !  he  can  carve  a 
whither  he  will  with  the  Sword/ 


192  THE  SHAVING   OP  SHAGPAT 

But  Abarak  cried,  "  0  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh !  he 
hath  peered  through  the  veil  of  the  Ferrying  Figure." 

Now,  when  they  heard  his  words,  the  visages  of  the 
Genii  darkened,  and  they  exclaimed  sorrowfully,  "Serve 
we  such  a  one?" 

And  they  looked  at  Shibli  Bagarag  a  look  of  anger,  so 
that  he,  whose  wits  were  in  past  occurrences,  imagined 
them  his  enemy  and  the  foe  of  Noorna  split  in  two,  cry- 
ing, "How?  Is  Karaz  a  couple?  and  do  I  multiply  him 
with  strokes  of  the  Sword?  " 

Thereupon  he  drew  the  Sword  from  his  girdle  in  wrath, 
flourishing  it;  and  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh  felt  the 
might  of  the  Sword,  and  prostrated  themselves  to  the 
ground  at  his  feet.  And  Abarak  said,  "  Arise,  and  bring 
us  swiftly  to  the  mountain  of  outer  Aklis." 

Then  said  they,  "  Seek  a  passage  down  yonder  brook  in 
the  moonbeams;  and  it  is  the  sole  passage  for  him  now." 

Abarak  went  with  them  to  the  brook  that  was  making 
watery  music  to  itself  between  banks  of  splintered  rock 
and  over  broad  slabs  of  marble,  bubbling  here  and  there 
about  the  roots  of  large-leaved  water-flowers,  and  catch- 
ing the  mirrored  moon  of  Aklis  in  whirls,  breaking  it  in 
lances.  Then  they  waded  into  the  water  knee-deep,  and 
the  two  Genii  seized  hold  of  a  great  slab  of  marble  in  the 
middle  of  the  water,  and  under  was  a  hollow  brimmed  with 
the  brook,  that  the  brook  partly  filled  and  flowed  over. 
Then  the  Genii  said  to  Abarak,  "Plunge  !  "  and  they  said 
the  same  to  Shibli  Bagarag.  The  swayer  of  the  Sword 
replied,  as  it  had  been  a  simple  occasion,  a  common  mat- 
ter, and  a  thing  for  the  exercise  of  civility,  "With  pleas- 
ure and  all  willingness!  "  Thereupon  he  tightened  his 
girth,  and,  arrowing  his  two  hands,  flung  up  his  heels  and 
disappeared  in  the  depth,  Abarak  following.  Surely, 
those  two  went  diving  downward  till  it  seemed  to  each 
there  was  no  bottom  in  the  depth,  and  they  would  not 
cease  to  feel  the  rushing  of  the  water  in  their  ears  till  the 
time  anticipated  by  mortals. 


THE  BOSOM  OF  NOORNA 

Now,  while  a  thousand  sparks  of  fire  were  bursting  on  the 
sight  of  the  two  divers,  and  they  speeded  heels  uppermost 
to  the  destiny  marked  out  for  them  by  the  premedita- 
tions of  the  All- Wise,  lo  !  Noorna  was  on  the  mountain  in 
outer  Aklis  with  Koorookh,  waiting  for  the  appearance  of 
her  betrothed,  Sword  in  hand.  She  saw  beams  from  the 
blazing  eye  of  Aklis,  and  knew  by  the  redness  of  it  that 
one,  a  mortal,  was  peering  on  the  earth  and  certain  of  cre- 
ated things.  So  she  waited  awhile  in  patience  for  the 
return  of  her  betrothed,  with  the  head  of  Koorookh  in  her 
lap,  caressing  the  bird,  and  teaching  it  words  of  our  lan- 
guage ;  and  the  bird  fashioned  its  bill  to  the  pronouncing 
of  names,  such  as  "Noorna,"  and  "Feshuavat,"  and 
"Goorelka"  ;  and  it  said  "Karaz,"  and  stuck  not  at  the 
name  "Shagpat,"  and  it  learnt  to  say  even  "Shagpat  shall 
be  shaved !  Shagpat  shall  be  shaved ! "  but  no  effort  of 
Noorna  could  teach  it  to  say,  "Shibli  Bagarag,"  the  bird 
calling  instead,  "Shiparack,  Shiplabarack,  Shibblisha- 
rack."  And  Noorna  chid  it  with  her  fore-finger,  crying, 
"  0  Koorookh !  wilt  thou  speak  all  names  but  that  one  of 
my  betrothed?  " 

So  she  said  again,  "Shibli  Bagarag."  And  the  bird  an- 
swered, imitating  its  best,  "Shibberacavarack."  Noorna 
was  wroth  with  it,  crying,  "  Oh  naughty  bird !  is  the  name 
of  my  beloved  hateful  to  thee?  " 

And  she  chid  Koorookh  angrily,  he  with  a  heavy  eye 
sulking,  and  keeping  the  sullen  feathers  close  upon  his 
poll.  Now,  she  thought,  "There  is  in  this  a  meaning, 
and  I  will  fathom  it."  So  she  counted  the  letters  in  the 
name  of  her  betrothed,  that  were  thirteen,  and  spelt  them 
backwards,  afterwards  multiplying  them  by  an  equal  num- 
ber, and  fashioning  words  from  the  selection  of  every 
third  and  seventh  letter.  Then  took  she  the  leaf  from  a 


194  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

tree  and  bade  Koorookh  fly  with  her  to  the  base  of  the 
mountain  sloping  from  Aklis  to  the  sea,  and  there  wrote 
with  a  pin's  point  on  the  leaf  the  words  fashioned,  dip- 
ping the  leaf  in  the  salt  ripple  by  the  beach,  till  they  were 
distinctly  traced.  And  it  was  revealed  to  her  that  Shibli 
Bagarag  bore  now  a  name  that  might  be  uttered  by  none, 
for  that  the  bearer  of  it  had  peered  through  the  veil  of  the 
ferrying  figure  in  Aklis.  When  she  knew  that,  her  grief 
was  heavy,  and  she  sat  on  the  cold  stones  of  the  beach  and 
among  the  bright  shells,  weeping  in  anguish,  loosing  her 
hair,  scattering  it  wildly,  exclaiming,  "  Awahy !  woe  on 
me!  Was  ever  man  more  tired  than  he  before  entering 
Aklis,  he  that  was  in  turns  abased  and  beloved  and  ex- 
alted !  yet  his  weakness  clingeth  to  him,  even  in  Aklis  and 
with  the  Wondrous  Sword  in  his  grasp." 

Then  she  thought,  "  Still  he  had  strength  to  wield  the 
Sword,  for  I  marked  the  flashing  of  it,  and  't  was  he  that 
leaned  forward  the  blade  to  me;  and  he  possesses  the 
qualities  that  bring  one  gloriously  to  the  fruits  of  enter- 
prise ! "  And  she  thought,  "  Of  a  surety,  if  Abarak  be 
with  him,  and  a  single  of  the  three  slaves  of  the  Sword 
that  I  released  from  the  tail  of  Garraveen,  Ravejoura, 
Karavejis,  and  Veejravoosh,  he  will  yet  come  through,  and 
I  may  revive  him  in  my  bosom  for  the  task."  So,  think- 
ing upon  that,  the  sweet  crimson  surprised  her  cheeks,  and 
she  arose  and  drew  Koorookh  with  her  along  the  beach  till 
they  came  to  some  rocks  piled  ruggedly  and  the  waves 
creaking  over  them.  She  mounted  these,  and  stepped 
across  them  to  the  entrance  of  a  cavern,  where  flowed  a 
full  water  swiftly  to  the  sea,  rolling  smooth  bulks  over 
and  over,  and  with  a  translucent  light  in  each,  showing 
precious  pebbles  in  the  bed  of  the  water  below ;  agates  of 
size,  limpid  cornelians,  plates  of  polished  jet,  rubies,  dia- 
monds innumerable  that  were  smitten  into  sheen  by  slant 
rays  of  the  level  sun,  the  sun  just  losing  its  circle  behind 
lustrous  billows  of  that  Enchanted  Sea.  She  turned  to 
Koorookh  a  moment,  saying,  with  a  coax  of  smiles,  "  Will 
my  bird  wait  here  for  me,  even  at  this  point?"  Koorookh 
clapped  both  his  wings,  and  she  said  again,  petting  him, 
"  He  will  keep  watch  to  pluck  me  from  the  force  of  water 
as  I  roll  past,  that  I  be  not  carried  to  the  sea,  and  lost?  " 


THE  BOSOM  OF  NOORNA  195 

Koorookh  still  clapped  his  wings,  and  she  entered  under 
the  arch  of  the  cavern.  It  was  roofed  with  crystals,  a 
sight  of  glory,  with  golden  lamps  at  intervals,  still  centres 
of  a  thousand  beams.  Taking  the  sandal  from  her  left 
foot  and  tucking  up  the  folds  of  her  trousers  to  the  bend 
of  her  clear  white  knee,  she  advanced,  half  wading,  up  the- 
winds  of  the  cavern,  and  holding  by  the  juts  of  granite 
here  and  there,  till  she  came  to  a  long  straight  lane  in  the> 
cavern,  and  at  the  end  of  it,  far  down,  a  solid  pillar  of 
many-coloured  water  that  fell  into  the  current,  as  it  nadl 
been  one  block  of  gleaming  marble  from  the  roof,  without 
ceasing.  Now,  she  made  toward  it,  and  fixed  her  eye 
warily  wide  on  it,  and  it  was  bright,  flawless  in  brill- 
iancy; but  while  she  gazed  a  sudden  blot  was  visible,  and 
she  observed  in  the  body  of  the  fall  two  dark  objects 
plumping  downward  one  after  the  other,  like  bolts,  and 
they  splashed  in  the  current  and  were  carried  off  by  the 
violence  of  its  full  sweep,  shooting  by  her  where  she 
stood,  rapidly ;  but  she,  knotting  her  garments  round  the 
waist  to  give  her  limbs  freedom  and  swiftness,  ran  a  space, 
and  then  bent  and  plunged,  catching,  as  she  rose,  the  fore- 
most to  her  bosom,  and  whirled  away  under  the  flashing 
crystals  like  a  fish  scaled  with  splendours  that  hath  darted 
and  seized  upon  a  prey,  and  is  bearing  it  greedily  to  some 
secure  corner  of  the  deeps  to  swallow  the  quivering  repast 
at  leisure.  Surely,  the  heart  of  Noorna  was  wise  of  what 
she  bore  against  her  bosom ;  and  it  beat  exulting  strokes 
in  the  midst  of  the  rush  and  roar  and  gurgle  of  the  tor- 
rent, and  the  gulping  sounds  and  multitudinous  outcries 
of  the  headlong  water.  That  verse  of  the  poet  would  ap- 
ply to  her  where  he  says : 

Lead  me  to  the  precipice, 

And  bid  me  leap  the  dark  abyss : 

I  care  not  what  the  danger  be, 
So  my  beloved,  my  beauteous  vision, 

Be  but  the  prize  I  bear  with  m«, 
For  she  to  Paradise  can  tarn  Perdition. 

Praise  be  to  him  that  planteth  love,  the  worker  of  this 
marvel,  within  us !  Now,  she  sped  in  the  manner  narrated 
through  the  mazes  of  the  cavern,  coming  suddenly  to  the 
point  at  the  entrance  where  perched  Koorookh  gravely 


196  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

upon  one  leg,  like  a  bird  with  an  angling  beak :  he  caught 
at  her  as  she  was  hurling  toward  the  sea,  and  drew  her 
to  the  bank  of  rock,  that  burden  on  her  bosom;  and  it 
was  Shibli  Bagarag,  her  betrothed,  his  eyes  closed,  his 
whole  countenance  colourless.  Behind  him  like  a  shadow 
streamed  Abarak,  and  Noorna  kneeled  by  the  waterside 
and  fetched  the  little  man  from  it  likewise ;  he  was  with- 
out a  change,  as  if  drawn  from  a  familiar  element;  and 
when  he  had  prostrated  himself  thrice  and  called  on  the 
Prophet's  name  in  the  form  of  thanksgiving,  he  wrung 
his  beard  of  the  wet,  and  had  wit  to  bless  the  action  of 
Noorna,  that  saved  him.  Then  the  two  raised  Shibli 
Bagarag  from  the  rock,  and  reclined  him  lengthwise  under 
the  wings  of  Koorookh,  and  Noorna  stretched  herself  there 
beside  him  with  one  arm  about  his  neck,  the  fair  head  of 
the  youth  on  her  bosom.  And  she  said  to  Abarak,  "  He 
hath  dreamed  many  dreams,  my  betrothed,  but  never  one 
so  sweet  as  that  I  give  him.  Already,  see,  the  hue  re- 
turneth  to  his  cheek  and  the  dimples  of  pleasure."  So 
was  it;  and  she  said,  "Mount,  0  thou  of  the  net  and  the 
bar !  and  stride  Koorookh  across  the  neck,  for  it  is  nigh 
the  setting  of  the  moon,  and  by  dawn  we  must  be  in  our 
middle  flight,  seen  of  men,  a  cloud  over  them." 

Said  Abarak,  "  To  hear  is  to  obey !  " 

He  bestrode  the  neck  of  Koorookh  and  sat  with  dang- 
ling feet,  till  she  cried,  "  Rise ! "  and  the  bird  spread  its 
wings  and  flapped  them  wide,  rising  high  in  the  silver 
rays,  and  flying  rapidly  forward  with  the  three  on  him 
from  the  mountain  in  front  of  Aklis,  and  the  white  sea 
with  its  enchanted  isles  and  wonders ;  flying  and  soaring 
till  the  earth  was  as  what  might  be  held  in  the  hollow  of 
the  hand,  and  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  a  mingled  heap 
of  shining  dust  in  the  midst. 


THE  REVIVAL 

Now,  the  feathers  of  Koorookh  in  his  flight  were  rafflec* 
by  a  chill  breeze,  and  they  were  speeding  through  a  light 
glow  of  cold  rose-colour.  Then  said  Noorna,  "  'T  is  the 
messenger  of  morning,  the  blush.  Oh,  what  changes  will 
date  from  this  day !  " 

The  glow  of  rose  became  golden,  and  they  beheld  under- 
neath them,  on  one  side,  the  rim  of  the  rising  red  sun, 
and  rays  streaming  over  the  earth  and  its  waters.  And 
Noorna  said,  "  I  must  warn  Feshnavat,  my  father,  and  pre- 
pare him  for  our  coming." 

So  she  plucked  a  feather  from  Koorookh  and  laid  the 
quill  downward,  letting  it  drop.  Then  said  she,  "  Now 
for  the  awakening  of  my  betrothed !  " 

Thereupon  she  hugged  his  head  a  moment,  and  kissed 
him  on  the  eyelids,  the  cheeks,  and  the  lips,  crying,  "By 
this  means  only  ! "  Crying  that,  she  pushed  him,  sliding, 
from  the  back  of  the  bird,  and  he  parted  from  them,  fall- 
ing headforemost  in  the  air  like  a  stricken  eagle.  Then 
she  called  to  Koorookh,  "  Seize  him !  "  and  the  bird  slanted 
his  beak  and  closed  his  wings,  —  the  two,  Abarak  and 
Noorna,  clinging  to  him  tightly ;  and  he  was  down  like  an 
arrow  between  Shibli  Bagarag  and  the  ground,  spreading 
beneath  him  like  a  tent,  and  Noorna  caught  the  youth 
gently  to  her  lap;  then  she  pushed  him  off  again,  inter- 
cepting his  descent  once  more,  till  they  were  on  a  level 
with  one  of  the  mountains  of  the  earth,  from  which  the 
City  of  Shagpat  is  visible  among  the  yellow  sands  like  a 
white  spot  in  the  yolk  of  an  egg.  So  by  this  time  the 
eyes  of  the  youth  gave  symptoms  of  a  desire  to  look  upon 
the  things  that  be,  peeping  faintly  beneath  the  lashes,  and 
she  exclaimed  joyfully,  raising  her  white  hands  above 
her  head,  "One  plunge  in  the  lake,  and  life  will  be  his 
again  I " 


198         THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Below  them  was  a  green  lake,  tinted  by  the  dawn  with 
crimson  and  yellow,  deep,  and  with  high  banks.  As  they 
crossed  it  to  the  middle,  she  slipped  off  the  youth  from 
Koorookh,  and  he  with  a  great  plunge  was  received  into 
the  stillness  of  the  lake.  Meanwhile  Koorookh  quivered 
his  wings  and  seized  him  when  he  arose,  bearing  him  to 
an  end  of  the  lake,  where  stood  one  dressed  like  a  Der- 
vish, and  it  was  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  the  father  of 
Noorna.  So  when  he  saw  them,  he  shouted  the  shout  of 
congratulation,  catching  Noorna  to  his  breast,  and  Shibli 
Bagarag  stretched  as  doth  a  heavy  sleeper  in  his  last 
doze,  saying,  in  a  yawning  voice,  "What  trouble?  I  wot 
there  is  nought  more  for  us  now  that  Shagpat  is  shaved  I 
Oh,  I  have  had  a  dream,  a  dream!  He  that  is  among 
Houris  in  Paradise  dreameth  not  a  dream  like  that.  And 
I  dreamed 't  is  gone!" 

Then  said  he,  staring  at  them,  "Who  be  ye?  What  is 
this?" 

Noorna  took  him  again  to  her  bosom,  and  held  him 
there;  and  she  plucked  a  herb,  and  squeezed  it  till  a 
drop  from  it  fell  on  either  of  his  lids,  applying  to  them 
likewise  a  dew  from  the  serpents  of  the  Sword,  and  he 
awoke  to  the  reality  of  things.  Surely,  then  he  prostrated 
himself  and  repeated  the  articles  of  his  faith,  taking  one 
hand  of  his  betrothed  and  kissing  her;  and  he  embraced 
Abarak  and  Feshnavat,  saying  to  the  father  of  Noorna,  "I 
know,  O  Feshnavat,  that  by  my  folly  and  through  my 
weakness  I  have  lost  time  in  this  undertaking,  but  it  shall 
be  short  work  now  with  Shagpat.  This  thy  daughter,  the 
Eclipser  of  Reason,  was  ever  such  a  prize  as  she?  I  will 
deserve  her.  Wullahy  I  I  am  now  a  new  man,  sprung 
like  fire  from  ashes.  Lo,  I  am  revived  by  her  for  the 
great  work." 

Said  Abarak:  "O  Master  of  the  Event,  secure  now  with- 
out delay  the  two  slaves  of  the  Sword,  and  lean  the  blade 
toward  Aklis." 

Upon  that,  he  ran  up  rapidly  to  the  summit  of  the 
mountain  and  drew  the  Sword  from  his  girdle,  and  leaned 
it  toward  Aklis,  and  it  lengthened  out  over  lands,  the 
blade  of  it  a  beam  of  solid  brilliance.  Presently,  from 
forth  the  invisible  remoteness  they  saw  the  two  Genii, 


THE  EEVIVAL  199 

Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh,  and  they  were  footing  the 
blade  swiftly,  like  stars,  speeding  up  till  they  were  within 
reach  of  the  serpents  of  the  hilt,  when  they  dropped  to  the 
earth,  bowing  their  heads ;  so  he  commanded  them  to  rise, 
crying,  "Search  ye  the  earth  and  its  confines,  and  bring 
hither  tidings  of  the  Genie  Karaz." 

They  said,  "To  hear  is  to  obey." 

Then  they  began  to  circle  each  round  the  other,  cir- 
cling more  and  more  sharply  till  beyond  the  stretch  of 
sight,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  said  to  Feshnavat,  "Am  I  not 
awake,  0  Feshnavat?  I  will  know  where  is  Karaz  ere  I 
seek  to  operate  on  Shagpat,  for  it  is  well  spoken  of  the 
poet: 

'  Obstructions  first  remove 
Ere  thou  thy  cunning  prove ; ' 

and  I  will  encounter  this  Karaz  that  was  our  Ass,  ere  I 
try  the  great  shave." 

Then  said  he,  turning  quickly,  "Yonder  is  the  light 
from  Aklis  striking  on  the  city,  and  I  mark  Shagpat,  even 
he,  illumined  by  it,  singled  out,  where  he  sitteth  on  the 
roof  of  the  palace  by  the  market-place." 

So  they  looked,  and  it  was  as  he  had  spoken,  that  Shag- 
pat  was  singled  out  in  the  midst  of  the  city  by  the  won- 
drous beams  of  the  eye  of  Aklis,  and  made  prominent  in 
effulgence. 

Said  Abarak,  climbing  to  the  level  of  observation,  "  He 
hath  a  redness  like  the  inside  of  a  halved  pomegranate." 

Feshnavat  stroked  his  chin,  exclaiming,  "He  may  be 
likened  to  a  mountain  goat  in  the  midst  of  a  forest  roaring 
with  conflagration." 

Said  Shibli  Bagarag,  "Now  is  he  the  red-maned  lion, 
the  bristling  boar,  the  uncombed  buffalo,  the  plumaged 
cock,  but  soon  will  he  be  like  nothing  else  save  the  wrin- 
kled kernel  of  a  shaggy  fruit.  Lo,  now,  the  Sword!  it 
leapeth  to  be  at  him,  and  Jt  will  be  as  the  keen  icicle  of 
winter  to  that  perishing  foliage,  that  doomed  crop!  So 
doth  the  destined  minute  destroy  with  a  flash  the  hoarded 
arrogance  of  ages ;  and  the  destined  hand  doeth  what  crea- 
tion failed  to  perform;  and  'tis  by  order,  destiny,  and 
preordainment,  that  the  works  of  this  world  come  to  pass. 


200  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

This  know  I,  and  I  witness  thereto,  that  am  of  a  surety 
ordained  to  the  Shaving  of  Shagpat! " 

Then  he  stood  apart  and  gazed  from  Shagpat  to  the  city 
that  now  began  to  move  with  the  morning;  elephants  and 
coursers  saddled  by  the  gates  of  the  King's  palace  were 
visible,  and  camels  blocking  the  narrow  streets,  and  the 
markets  bustling.  Surely,  though  the  sun  illumined  that 
city,  it  was  as  a  darkness  behind  Shagpat  singled  by  the 
beams  of  Aklia 


THE  PLOT 

Now,  while  Shibli  Bagarag  gazed  on  Shagpat  kindled  by 
the  beams  of  Aklis,  lo,  the  Genii  Karavejis  and  Veejra- 
voosh  circling  each  other  in  swift  circles  like  two  sap- 
phire rings  toward  him,  and  they  whirled  to  a  point  above 
his  head,  and  fell  and  prostrated  themselves  at  his  feet: 
so  he  cried,  "  0  ye  slaves  of  the  Sword,  my  servitors  !  how 
of  the  whereabout  of  Karaz?  " 

They  answered,  "  0  Master  of  the  Event,  we  found  him 
after  many  circlings  far  off,  and  't  was  by  the  borders  of 
the  Putrid  Sea.  We  came  not  close  on  him,  for  he  is 
stronger  than  we  without  the  Sword,  but  it  seemed  he  was 
distilling  drops  of  an  oil  from  certain  substances,  large 
thickened  drops  that  dropped  into  a  phial." 

Then  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  "The  season  of  weakness 
with  me  is  over,  and  they  that  confide  in  my  strength,  my 
cunning,  my  watchfulness,  my  wielding  of  the  Sword, 
have  nought  to  fear  for  themselves.  Now,  this  is  my  plot, 
0  Feshnavat,  —  that  part  of  it  in  which  thou  art  to  have  a 
share.  'T  is  that  thou  depart  forthwith  to  the  City  yon- 
der, and  enter  thy  palace  by  a  back  entrance,  and  I  will 
see  that  thou  art  joined  within  an  hour  of  thy  arrival  there 
by  Baba  Mustapha,  my  uncle,  the  gabbler.  He  is  there, 
as  I  guess  by  signs;  I  have  had  warnings  of  him.  Dis- 
cover him  speedily.  Thy  task  is  then  to  induce  him  to 
make  an  attempt  on  the  head  of  Shagpat  in  all  wiliness,  as 
he  and  thou  think  well  to  devise.  He  will  fail,  as  I  know, 
but  what  is  that  saying  of  the  poet?  — 


'  Persist,  if  thou  wonldst  truly  reach  thine  ends, 
For  failures  oft  are  but  advising  friend*.' 


And  he  says : 


•  Every  failure  is  a  step  advanced, 
To  him  who  will  consider  how  it  chanced.' 


202  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Wherefore,  will  I  that  this  attempt  be  made,  keeping  the 
counsel  that  is  mine.  Thou  must  tell  Baba  Mustapha  I 
wait  without  the  city  to  reward  him  by  my  powers  of  re- 
ward with  all  that  he  best  loveth.  So,  when  he  has  failed 
in  his  attempt  on  Shagpat,  and  blows  fall  plenteous ly  upon 
him,  and  he  is  regaled  with  the  accustomed  thwacking,  as 
I  have  tasted  it  in  this  undertaking,  do  thou  waste  no  fur- 
ther word  on  him,  for  his  part  is  over,  and  as  is  said : 

'  Waste  not  a  word  in  enterprise ! 
Against  —  or  for — the  minute  flies.' 

f T  is  then  for  thee,  0  Feshnavat,  to  speed  to  the  presence  i 
of  the  King  in  his  majesty,  and  thou  wilt  find  means  of: 
coming  to  him  by  a  disguise.     Once  in  the  Hall  of  Coun- 
cil, challenge  the  tongue  of  contradiction  to  affirm  Shagpat. 
other  than  a  bald-pate  bewigged.     This  is  for  thee  to  do."1 

Quoth  Feshnavat  plaintively,  afterthought,  "And  what; 
becometh  of  me,  0  thou  Master  of  the  Event?  " 

Shibli  Bagarag  said,  "  The  clutch  of  the  executioner  willl 
be  upon  thee,  0  Feshnavat,  and  a  clamouring  multitude 
around;  short  breathing-time  given  thee,  O  father  of  I 
Noorna,  ere  the  time  of  breathing  is  commanded  to  cease.. 
Now,  in  that  respite  the  thing  that  will  occur,  't  is  fori 
thee  to  see  and  mark;  sure,  never  will  reverse  of  things: 
be  more  complete,  and  the  other  side  of  the  picture  more 
rapidly  exhibited,  if  all  go  as  I  conceive  and  plot,  and  the 
trap  be  not  premature  nor  too  perfect  for  the  trappers ;  as 
the  poet  has  declared  : 

'  Ye  that  intrigue,  to  thy  slaves  proper  portions  adapt ; 
Perfectest  plots  burst  too  often,  for  all  are  not  apt. 

And  I  witness  likewise  to  the  excellence  of  his  saying: 

'  To  master  an  Event, 

Study  men ! 

The  minutes  are  well  spent 
Only  then.' 

Also  "t  is  he  that  says : 

*  The  man  of  men  who  knoweth  men,  the  Man  of  men  is  he  1 
His  army  is  the  human  race,  and  every  foe  mast  flee.' 


THE  PLOT  203 

So  have  I  apportioned  to  thee  thy  work,  to  Baba  Mustapha 
his;  reserving  to  myself  the  work  that  is  mine!  " 

Thereat  Feshnavat  exclaimed,  "O  Master  of  the  Event, 
may  I  be  thy  sacrifice !  on  my  head  be  it !  and  for  thee  to 
command  is  for  me  to  obey !  but  surely,  this  Sword  of 
thine  that  is  in  thy  girdle,  the  marvellous  blade  —  't  is 
alone  equal  to  the  project  and  the  shave;  and  the  matter 
might  be  consummated,  the  great  thing  done,  even  from 
this  point  whence  we  behold  Shagpat  visible,  as  't  were 
brought  forward  toward  us  by  the  beams !  And  this 
Sword  swayed  by  thee,  and  with  thy  skill  and  strength 
and  the  hardihood  of  hand  that  is  thine,  wullahy !  't  would 
shear  him  now,  this  moment,  taking  the  light  of  Aklis  for 
a  lather." 

Shibli  Bagarag  knotted  the  brows  of  impatience,  crying, 
"Hast  thou  forgotten  Karaz  in  thy  calculations?  I  know 
of  a  surety  what  this  Sword  will  do,  and  I  wot  the  oil 
he  distilleth  strengthened  Shagpat  but  against  common 
blades.  Y"et  shall  it  not  be  spoken  of  me,  Shibli  Baga- 
rag, that  I  was  tripped  by  my  own  conceit;  the  poet 
counselleth : 

'  When  for  any  mighty  end  thou  hast  the  aid  of  heaven, 
Mount  until  thy  strength  shall  match  those  great  means  which  are 
given : ' 

nor  that  I  was  overthrown  in  despising  mine  enemy,  for- 
getful of  the  saying  of  the  sage : 

'  Read  the  features  of  thy  foe,  wherever  he  may  find  thee, 
Small  he  is,  seen  face  to  face,  but  thrice  his  size  behind  thee.' 

Wullahy !  this  Karaz  is  a  Genie  of  craft  and  resources, 
one  of  a  mighty  stock,  and  I  must  close  with  Shagpat  to 
be  sure  of  him;  and  that  I  am  not  deceived  by  semblances, 
opposing  guile  with  guile,  and  guile  deeper  than  his,  for 
that  he  awaiteth  it  not,  thinking  I  have  leaped  in  fancy 
beyond  the  Event,  and  am  puffed  by  the  after-breaths  of 
adulation,  I !  — thinking  I  pluck  the  blossoms  in  my  hun- 
ger for  the  fruit,  that  I  eat  the  chick  of  the  yet  unlaid 
egg,  0  Feshnavat.  As  is  said,  and  the  warrior  beareth 
witness  to  the  wisdom  of  it: 

'  His  weapon  I  '11  study,  my  own  conceal ; 
So  with  two  arms  to  his  one  shall  I  deal' 


204  THE  SHAVING   OP   SHAGPAT 

The  same  also  testifieth : 

'  'T  is  folly  of  the  hero,  though  resistless  in  the  field, 
To  stake  the  victory  on  his  steel,  and  fling  away  the  shield.' 

And  likewise : 

'  Examine  thine  armour  in  every  joint, 
For  slain  was  the  Giant,  and  by  a  pin's  point.' 

Wah !  't  is  certain  there  will  need  subtlety  in  this  under- 
taking, and  a  plot  plotted,  so  do  thou  my  bidding,  and  fail 
not  in  the  part  assigned  to  thee." 

Now,  Feshnavat  was  persuaded  by  his  words,  and  cried, 
"  In  diligence,  discretion,  and  the  virtues  which  character- 
ize subordinates,  I  go,  and  I  delay  not !  I  will  perform 
the  thing  required  of  me,  0  Master  of  the  Event."  And 
he  repeated  in  verse : 

With  danger  beset,  be  the  path  crooked  or  narrow, 
Thou  art  the  bow,  and  I  the  arrow. 

Then  embraced  he  his  daughter,  kissing  her  on  the  fore- 
head and  the  eyes,  and  tightening  the  girdle  of  his  robe, 
departed,  with  the  name  of  Allah  on  his  lips,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  City. 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  called  to  him  the  two  Genii,  and  his 
command  was,  "Soar,  ye  slaves  of  the  Sword,  till  the 
range  of  earth  and  its  mountains  and  seas  and  deserts  are 
a  cluster  in  the  orb  of  the  eye,  Shiraz  conspicuous  as  a 
rose  among  garlands,  and  the  ruby  consorted  with  other 
gems  in  a  setting.  In  Shiraz  or  the  country  adjoining  ye 
will  come  upon  one  Baba  Mustapha  by  name ;  and,  if  he 
be  alone,  ye  may  recognize  him  by  his  forlorn  look  and 
the  hang  of  his  cheeks,  his  vacancy  as  of  utter  abandon- 
ment; if  in  company,  'twill  be  the  only  talker  that 's  he; 
seize  on  him,  give  him  a  taste  of  thin  air,  and  deposit  him 
without  speech  on  the  roof  of  a  palace,  where  ye  will  see 
Feshnavat  in  yonder  city :  this  do  ere  the  shadows  of  the 
palm-tree  by  the  well  in  the  plain  move  up  the  mounds 
that  enclose  the  fortified  parts." 

Cried  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh,  "To  hear  is  to  obey." 

Up  into  the  sky,  like  two  bright  balls  tossed  by  jug. 
glers,  the  two  Genii  shot;  and,  watching  them,  Noorna 
bin  Noorka  said,  "My  lire,  there  is  a  third  wanting, 


THE  PLOT  205 

Ravejoura;  and  with  aid  of  the  three,  earth  could  have 
planted  no  obstruction  to  thy  stroke;  but  thou  wert 
tempted  by  the  third  temptation  in  Aklis,  and  left  not  the 
Hall  in  triumph,  the  Hall  of  the  Duping  Brides !  " 

He  answered,  "  That  is  so,  my  soul ;  and  the  penalty  is 
mine,  by  which  I  am  made  to  employ  deceits  ere  I  strike." 

And  she  said,  "  'T  is  to  the  generosity  of  Gulrevaz  thou 
owest  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh;  and  I  think  she  was 
generous,  seeing  thee  true  to  me  in  love,  she  that  hath 
sorrows ! " 

So  he  said,  "What  of  the  sorrows  of  Gulrevaz?  Tell 
me  of  them." 

But  she  said,  "Nay,  0  my  betrothed!  would'st  thou 
have  this  tongue  blistered,  and  a  consuming  spark  shot 
against  this  bosom?  " 

Then  he:  "Make  it  clear  to  me." 

She  put  her  mouth  to  his  ear,  saying,  "  There  is  a  curse 
on  whoso  telleth  of  things  in  Aklis,  and  to  tattle  of  the 
Seven  and  their  sister  forerunneth  wretchedness." 

Surely,  he  stooped  to  that  fair  creature,  and  folded  her 
to  his  heart,  his  whole  soul  heaving  to  her;  and  he  cried 
;  again  and  again,  "  Shall  harm  hap  to  thee  through  me?  by 
Allah,  no!" 

And  he  closed  the  privileged  arm  of  the  bridegroom 
round  her  waist,  that  had  the  yieldingness  of  the  willow- 
branchlet,  the  flowingness  of  the  summer  sea-wave,  and 
seemed  as  'twere  melting  honey -like  at  the  first  gentle 
pressure ;  she  leaning  her  head  shyly  on  his  shoulder,  yet 
^confiding  in  his  faithfulness;  it  was  that  she  was  shy  of 
the  great  bliss  in  her  bosom,  and  was  made  timid  by  the 
fervour  of  her  affection;  as  is  sung: 

Deeper  than  the  source  of  hlushes 
Is  the  power  that  makes  them  start ; 
Up  in  floods  the  red  stream  rashes, 
At  one  whisper  of  the  heart. 

And  it  is  sung  in  words  present  to  the  youth,  as  he  sur- 
veyed her : 

O  beauty  of  the  bride !  O  beauty  of  the  bride  ! 
Her  bashful  joys  like  serpents  sting  her  tenderness  to  tears : 
Her  hopes  are  sleeping  eagles  in  the  shining  of  the  spheres; 
O  beauty  of  the  bride !  O  beauty  of  the  brid» ! 


206  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Aad  «he  's  a  lapping  antelope  that  from  her  image  flees ; 

And  she  'a  a  dove  caught  in  two  hands,  to  pant  as  she  shall  please  ; 

O  beauty  of  the  bride  !  O  beauty  of  the  bride ! 
Like  torrents  over  Paradise  her  lengthy  tresses  roll  : 
She  moves  as  doth  a  swaying  rose,  and  chides  her  hasty  soul ; 
The  thing  she  will,  that  will  she  not,  yet  can  no  will  control : 

0  beauty,  beauty,  beauty  of  the  bride ! 

They  were  thus  together,  Abarak  leaning  tinder  one 
wing  of  Koorookh  for  shade  up  the  slope  of  the  hill,  and 
Shibli  Bagarag  called  to  him,  "Ho,  Abarak!  look  if  there 
be  aught  impending  over  the  City." 

So  he  arose  and  looked,  crying,  "One  with  plunging 
legs,  high  up  in  air  over  the  City,  between  two  bright 
bodies."  Shibli  Bagarag  exclaimed,  "'Tis  well!  The 
second  chapter  of  the  Event  is  opened;  so  call  it,  thou 
that  tellest  of  the  Shaving  of  Shagpat.  It  will  be  the 
shortest." 

Then  he  said,  "The  shadow  of  yonder  palm  is  now  a 
slanted  spear  up  the  looped  wall  of  the  City.  Now,  the 
time  of  Shagpat's  triumph,  and  his  greatest  majesty,  will 
be  when  yonder  walls  chase  the  shadow  of  the  palm  up 
this  hill;  and  then  will  Baba  Mustapha  be  joining  the 
chorus  of  creatures  that  shriek  toward  even  ere  they 
snooze.  There  's  not  an  ape  in  the  woods,  nor  hyaena  in 
the  forest,  nor  birds  on  the  branches,  nor  frogs  in  the 
marsh  that  will  outnoise  Baba  Mustapha  under  the  thong! 
Wullahy,  't  will  grieve  his  soul  in  aftertinie  when  he  sit- 
teth  secure  in  honours,  courted,  with  a  thousand  ears  at 
his  bidding,  that  so  much  breath  'scaped  him  without  toll 
of  the  tongue !  But  as  the  poet  says  truly : 

'  The  chariot  of  Events  lifteth  many  dusty  heels, 
And  many,  high  and  of  renown,  it  crusheth  with  its  wheels.' 

Wah!  I  have  had  my  share  of  the  thong,  and  am  I, 
Master  of  the  Event,  to  be  squeamish  in  attaining  an  end 
by  its  means?  Nay,  by  this  Sword!  " 

Thereat,  he  strode  once  again  to  the  summit  of  the  hill, 
and  in  a  moment  the  Genii  fronted  him  like  two  shot 
arrows  quivering  from  the  flight.  So  he  cried,  "It  is 
done  ?  " 

They  answered,  "  In  faithfulness." 

So  he  beckoned  to  Noorna,  and  she  came  forward  swiftly 


THE  PLOT  207 

to  him,  exclaiming,  "  I  read  the  plot,  and  the  thing  required 
of  me ;  so  say  nought,  but  embrace  me  ere  I  leave  thee,  0 
my  betrothed,  my  master ! " 

He  embraced  her,  and  led  her  to  where  the  Genii  stood. 
Then  said  he  to  the  Genii,  "  Convey  her  to  the  City,  O  ye 
slaves  of  the  Sword,  and  watch  over  her  there.  If  ye  let 
but  an  evil  wind  ruffle  the  hair  of  her  head,  lo !  I  sever 
ye  with  a  stroke  that  shaketh  the  under  worlds.  Kemain 
by  her  till  the  shrieks  of  Baba  Mustapha  greet  ye,  and  then 
will  follow  commotion  among  the  crowd,  and  cries  for  Shag- 
pat  to  show  himself  to  the  people,  cries  also  of  death  to 
Feshnavat ;  and  there  will  be  an  assembly  in  the  King's 
Hall  of  Justice ;  thither  lead  ye  my  betrothed,  and  watch 
over  her."  And  he  said  to  Xoorna,  "Thou  knowest  my 
design  ?  " 

So  she  said,  "  When  condemnation  is  passed  on  Fesh- 
navat, that  I  appear  in  the  hall  as  bride  of  Shagpat,  and 
so  rescue  him  that  is  my  father."  And  she  cried,  "  Oh,  fair 
delightful  time  that  is  coming  !  my  happiness  and  thy  hon- 
our on  earth  dateth  from  it.  Farewell,  0  my  betrothed, 
beloved  youth  !  Eyes  of  mine !  these  Genii  will  be  by,  and 
there 's  no  cause  for  fear  or  sorrow,  and  't  is  for  thee  to 
look  like  morning  that  speeds  the  march  of  light.  Thou, 
my  betrothed,  art  thou  not  all  that  enslaveth  the  heart  of 
woman  ?  " 

Cried  Shibli  Bagarag,  "  And  thou,  0  Noorna,  all  that  en- 
raptureth  the  soul  of  man  !  Allah  keep  thee,  my  life  ! " 

Lo  !  while  they  were  wasting  the  rich  love  in  their  hearts, 
the  Genii  rose  up  with  Noorna,  and  she,  waving  her  hand 
to  him,  was  soon  distant  and  as  the  white  breast  of  a  bird 
turned  to  the  sun.  Then  went  he  to  where  Abarak  was 
leaning,  and  summoned  Koorookh,  and  the  twain  mounted 
him,  and  rose  up  high  over  the  City  of  Shagpat  to  watch 
the  ripening  of  the  Event,  as  a  vulture  watcheth  over  the 
desert. 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN 


Now,  in  the  City  of  Shagpat,  Kadza,  spouse  of  Shagpat, 
she  that  had  belaboured  Shibli  Bagarag,  had  a  dream  while 
these  things  were  doing  ;  and  it  was  a  dream  of  danger  and 
portent  to  the  glory  of  her  eyes,  Shagpat.  So,  at  the  hour 
when  he  was  revealed  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  made  luminous  by 
the  beams  of  Aklis,  Kadza  went  to  an  inner  chamber,  and 
greased  her  hands  and  her  eyelids,  and  drank  of  a  phial, 
and  commenced  tugging  at  a  brass  ring  fixed  in  the  floor,  and 
it  yielded  and  displayed  an  opening,  over  which  she  stooped 
the  upper  half  of  her  leanness,  and  pitching  her  note  high, 
called  "  Karaz ! "  After  that,  she  rose  and  retreated  from 
the  hole  hastily,  and  in  the  winking  of  an  eye  it  was  filled, 
as 't  were  a  pillar  of  black  smoke,  by  the  body  of  the  Genie, 
he  breathing  hard  with  mighty  travel.  So  he  cried  to  her 
between  his  pantings  and  puffings,  "Speak!  where  am  1 
wanted,  and  for  what?  " 

Now,  Kadza  was  affrighted  at  the  terribleness  of  his 
manner,  and  the  great  smell  of  the  Genie  was  an  intoxica- 
tion in  her  nostril,  so  that  she  reeled  and  could  just  falter 
out,  "  Danger  to  the  Identical  I " 

Then  he,  in  a  voice  like  claps  of  thunder,  "  Out  with  it ! " 

She  answered  beseechingly,  "  'T  is  a  dream  I  had,  0  Genie ; 
a  dream  of  danger  to  him." 

While  she  spake,  the  Genie  clenched  his  fists  and  stamped 
so  that  the  palace  shook  and  the  earth  under  it,  exclaiming, 
"  0  abominable  Kadza !  a  dream  is  it  ?  another  dream  ?  Wilt 
thou  cease  dreaming  awhile,  thou  silly  woman  ?  Know  I 
not  he  that's  powerful  against  us  is  in  Aklis,  crowned  ape, 
and  that  his  spells  are  gone.  And  I  was  distilling  drops 
to  defy  the  Sword  and  strengthen  Shagpat  from  assault, 
yet  bringest  thou  me  from  my  labour  by  the  Putrid  Sea 
w;th  thy  accursed  dream  ! "  Thereat,  he  frowned  and  shot 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN  209 

fire  at  her  from  his  eyes,  so  that  she  singed,  and  the  room 
thickened  with  a  horrible  smell  of  burning.  She  feared 
greatly  and  trembled,  but  he  cooled  himself  against  the  air, 
crying  presently  in  a  diminished  voice,  "  Let 's  hear  this 
dream,  thou  foolish  Kadza !  'T  is  as  well  to  hear  it.  Prob- 
ably Rabesqurat  hath  sent  thee  some  sign  from  Aklis,  where 
she  f erryeth  a  term.  What 's  that  saying : 

*  A  woman 's  at  the  core  of  every  plot  man  plotteth, 
And  like  an  ill-reared  fruit,  first  at  the  core  it  rotteth.' 

So  out  with  it,  thou  Kadza ! " 

Now,  the  urgency  of  that  she  had  dreamed  overcame 
fear  in  Kadza,  and  she  said,  "  O  great  Genie  and  terrible, 
my  dream  was  this.  Lo  !  I  saw  an  assemblage  of  the  beasts 
of  the  forests  and  them  that  inhabit  wild  places.  And 
there  was  the  elephant  and  the  rhinoceros  and  the  hippo- 
potamus, and  the  camel  and  the  camelopard,  and  the  serpent 
and  the  striped  tiger;  also  the  antelope,  the  hyaena,  the 
jackal,  and  above  them,  eminent  in  majesty,  the  lion. 
Surely,  he  sat  as  't  were  on  a  high  seat,  and  they  like  sup- 
pliants thronging  the  presence:  this  I  saw,  the  heart  on 
my  ribs  beating  for  Shagpat.  And  there  appeared  among 
the  beasts  a  monkey  all  ajoint  with  tricks,  jerking  with 
malice,  he  looking  as  't  were  hungry  for  the  doing  of  things 
detestable ;  and  the  lion  scorned  him,  and  I  marked  him 
ridicule  the  lion  :  't  was  so.  And  the  lion  began  to  scowl, 
and  the  other  beasts  marked  the  displeasure  of  the  lion. 
Then  chased  they  that  monkey  from  the  presence,  and  for 
awhile  he  was  absent,  and  the  lion  sat  in  his  place  gravely, 
with  calm,  receiving  homage  of  the  other  beasts;  and  down 
to  his  feet  came  the  eagle  that's  lord  of  air,  and  before  him 
kneeled  the  great  elephant,  and  the  subtle  serpent  eyed 
him  with  awe.  But  soon  did  that  monkey,  the  wretched 
animal !  reappear,  and  there  was  no  peace  for  the  lion,  he 
worrying  till  close  within  stretch  of  the  lion's  paw !  Wah ! 
the  lion  might  have  crushed  him,  but  that  he's  magnani- 
mous. And  so  it  was  that  as  the  monkey  advanced  the  lion 
roared  to  him,  '  Begone  ! ' 

"And  the  monkey  cried,  'Who  commandeth?' 

"So  the  lion  roared,  'The  King  of  beasts  and  thy  King!' 

"  Then  that  monkey  cried,  '  Homage  to  the  King  of  beast* 


210  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

and  my  King !  Allah  keep  him  in  his  seat,  and  I  would  he 
were  visible/ 

"  So  the  lion  roared,  '  He  sitteth  here  acknowledged,  thou 
graceless  animal !  and  he 's  before  thee  apparent.' 

"  Then  the  monkey  affected  eagerness,  and  gazed  about 
him,  and  peered  on  this  beast  and  on  that,  exclaiming  like 
one  that 's  injured  and  under  slight,  '  What 's  this  I  've  done, 
and  wherein  have  I  offended,  that  he  should  be  hidden  from 
me  when  pointed  out  ? ' 

"  So  the  lion  roared,  '  'T  is  I  where  I  sit,  thou  offensive 
monkey ! ' 

"  Then  that  monkey  in  the  upper  pitch  of  amazement, 
*Thoul  Is  it  for  created  thing  to  acknowledge  a  king 
without  a  tail  ?  And,  O  beasts  of  the  forest  and  the  wil- 
derness, how  say  ye  ?  Am  I  to  blame  that  I  bow  not  to  one 
that  hath  it  not  ? ' 

"  Upon  that,  the  lion  rose,  and  roared  in  the  extreme  of 
wrath  ;  but  the  word  he  was  about  to  utter  was  checked  in 
him,  for  't  was  manifest  that  where  he  would  have  lashed  a 
tail  he  shook  a  stump,  wagging  it  as  the  dog  doth.  Lol 
when  the  lion  saw  that,  the  majesty  melted  from  him,  and 
in  a  moment  the  plumpness  of  content  and  prosperity  for- 
sook him,  so  that  his  tawny  skin  hung  flabbily  and  his  jaw 
drooped,  and  shame  deprived  him  of  stateliness ;  abashed 
was  he  !  Now,  seeing  the  lion  shamed  in  this  manner,  my 
heart  beat  violently  for  Shagpat,  so  that  I  awoke  with  the 
strength  of  its  beating,  and  't  was  hidden  from  me  whether 
the  monkey  was  punished  by  the  lion,  or  exalted  by  the 
other  beasts  in  his  place,  or  how  came  it  that  the  lion's 
tail  was  lost,  witched  from  him  by  that  villain  of  mischief, 
the  monkey ;  but,  0  great  Genie,  I  knew  there  was  a  lion 
among  men,  reverenced,  and  with  enemies ;  that  lion,  he 
that  espoused  me  and  my  glory,  Shagpat !  'T  was  enough 
to  know  that  and  tremble  at  the  omen  of  my  dream,  0 
Genie.  Wherefore  I  thought  it  well  to  summon  thee  here, 
that  thou  mightest  set  a  guard  over  Shagpat,  and  shield 
him  from  the  treacheries  that  beset  him." 

When  Kadza  had  ceased  speaking,  the  Genie  glowered 
at  her  awhile  in  silence.  Then  said  he,  "What  creature 
is  that,  0  Kadza,  which  tormenteth  like  the  tongue  cf  a 
woman,  is  small  as  her  pretensions  to  virtue,  and  which 


THE   DISH   OF   POMEGRANATE   GRAIN  211 

showeth  how  the  chapters  of  her  history  should  be  read  by 
the  holy  ones,  even  in  its  manner  of  movement  ?  " 

Cried  Kadza,  "  The  flea  that  hoppeth  ! " 

So  he  said,  "  JT  is  well !  Hast  thou  strength  to  carry  one 
of  my  weight,  0  Kadza  ?  " 

She  answered  in  squeamishness,  "  I,  wullahy  !  I  'm  but 
a  woman,  0  Genie,  though  the  wife  of  Shagpat :  and  to  carry 
thee  is  for  the  camel  and  the  elephant  and  the  horse." 

Then  he,  "  Tighten  thy  girdle,  and  when  tightened,  let  a 
loose  loop  hang  from  it." 

She  did  that,  and  he  gave  her  a  dark  powder  in  her  hand, 
saying,  "  Swallow  the  half  of  this,  and  what  remaineth  mix 
with  water,  and  sprinkle  over  thee." 

That  did  she,  and  thereupon  he  exclaimed,  "  Now  go,  and 
thy  part  is  to  move  round  Shagpat ;  and  a  wind  will  strike 
thee  from  one  quarter,  and  from  which  quarter  it  striketh 
is  the  one  of  menace  and  danger  to  Shagpat." 

So  Kadza  was  diligent  in  doing  what  the  Genie  com- 
manded, and  sought  for  Shagpat,  and  moved  round  him 
many  times ;  but  no  wind  struck  her.  She  went  back  to  the 
Genie,  and  told  him  of  this,  and  the  Genie  cried,  "What? 
no  wind  ?  not  one  from  Aklis  ?  Then  will  Shagpat  of  a 
surety  triumph,  and  we  with  him." 

Now,  there  was  joy  on  the  features  of  Kadza  and  Karaz, 
till  suddenly  he  said,  "  Halt  in  thy  song !  How  if  there  be 
danger  and  menace  above  ?  and 't  is  the  thing  that  may  be." 

Then  he  seized  Kadza,  and  slung  her  by  him,  and  went 
into  the  air,  and  up  it  till  the  roofs  of  the  City  of  Shagpat 
were  beneath  their  feet,  all  on  them  visible.  And  under 
an  awning,  on  the  roof  of  a  palace,  there  was  the  Vizier  Fesh- 
navat  and  Baba  Mustapha,  they  ear  to  lip  in  consultation, 
and  Baba  Mustapha  brightening  with  the  matter  revealed 
to  him,  and  bobbing  his  head,  and  breaking  on  the  speech 
of  the  Vizier.  Now,  when  he  saw  them  the  Genie  blew 
from  his  nostrils  a  double  stream  of  darkness  which  curled 
in  a  thick  body  round  and  round  him,  and  Kadza  slung  at 
his  side  was  enveloped  in  it,  as  with  folds  of  a  huge  ser- 
pent. Then  the  Genie  hung  still,  and  lo  !  two  radiant 
figures  swept  toward  the  roof  he  watched,  and  between 
them  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  her  long  dark  hair  borne  far  back- 
ward, and  her  robe  of  silken  stuff  fluttering  and  straining  on 


212  THE  SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 

the  pearl  buttons  as  she  flew.  There  was  that  in  her  beauty 
and  the  silver  clearness  of  her  temples  and  her  eyes,  and 
her  cheeks,  and  her  neck,  and  chin  and  ankles,  that  made 
the  Genie  shudder  with  love  of  her,  and  he  was  nigh  drop- 
ping Kadza  to  the  ground,  forgetful  of  all  save  Noorna. 
When  he  recovered,  and  it  was  by  tightening  his  muscles 
till  he  was  all  over  hard  knots,  Noorna  was  seated  on  a 
cushion,  and  descending  he  heard  her  speak  his  name. 
Then  sniffed  he  the  air,  and  said  to  Kadza,  "  0  spouse  of 
Shagpat,  a  plot  breweth,  and  the  odour  of  it  is  in  my  nos- 
tril. Fearest  thou  a  scorching  for  his  sake  thou  adorest, 
the  miracle  of  men  ? " 

She  answered,  "  On  my  head  be  it,  and  my  eyes  ! " 

He  said,  "I  shall  alight  thee  behind  the  pole  of  awn- 
ing on  yonder  roof,  where  are  the  two  bright  figures  and 
the  dingy  one,  and  the  Vizier  Feshnavat  and  Noorna  bin 
Noorka.  A  flame  will  spring  up  severing  thee  from  them ; 
but  thou  'rt  secure  from  it  by  reason  of  the  powder  I  gave 
thee,  all  save  the  hair  that 's  on  thee.  Thou  'It  have  an- 
other shape  than  that  which  is  thine,  even  that  of  a  slave  of 
Noorna  bin  Noorka,  and  say  to  her  when  she  asketh  thy 
business  with  her, '  0  my  mistress,  let  the  storm  gather-in 
the  storm-bird  when  it  would  surprise  men.'  Do  this,  and 
thy  part 's  done,  0  Kadza ! " 

Thereupon  he  swung  a  circle,  and  alighted  her  behind 
the  pole  of  awning  on  the  roof,  and  vanished,  and  the  circle 
of  flame  rose  up,  and  Kadza  passed  through  it  slightly 
scorched,  and  answered  to  the  question  of  Noorna,  "  0  my 
mistress,  let  the  storm  gather-in  the  storm-bird  when  it 
would  surprise  men."  Now,  when  Noorna  beheld  her,  and 
heard  her  voice,  she  pierced  the  disguise,  and  was  ware  of 
the  wife  of  Shagpat,  and  glanced  her  large  eyes  over  Kadza 
from  head  to  sole  till  they  rested  on  the  loose  loop  in  her 
girdle.  Seeing  that,  she  rose  up,  and  stretched  her  arms, 
and  spread  open  the  palm  of  her  hand,  and  slapped  Kadza 
on  the  cheek  and  ear  a  hard  slap,  so  that  she  heard  bells  ; 
and  ere  she  ceased  to  hear  them,  another,  so  that  Kadza 
staggered  back  and  screamed,  and  Feshnavat  was  moved 
to  exclaim,  "  What  has  the  girl,  thy  favourite,  offended  in, 
O  my  daughter  ?  " 

So  Noorna  continued  slapping  Kadza.  and  cried,  "  Is  she 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN  213 

not  sluttish  ?  and  where 's  the  point  of  decency  established 
in  her,  this  Luloo  ?  Shall  her  like  appear  before  thee  and 
me  with  loose  girdle !  " 

Then  she  pointed  to  the  girdle,  and  Kadza  tightened  the 
loose  loop,  and  fell  upon  the  ground  to  avoid  the  slaps,  and 
Noorna  knelt  by  her,  and  clutched  at  a  portion  of  her  dress 
and  examined  it,  peering  intently ;  and  she  caught  up  an« 
other  part,  and  knotted  it  as  if  to  crush  a  living  creature, 
hunting  over  her,  and  grasping  at  her;  and  so  it  was  that 
while  she  tore  strips  from  the  garments  of  Kadza,  Feshna- 
vat  jumped  suddenly  in  wrath,  and  pinched  over  his  gar- 
ments, crying,  "'T  is  unbearable  !  'T  is  I  know  not  what 
other  than  a  flea  that  persecuteth  me." 

Upon  that,  Noorna  ran  to  him,  and  while  they  searched 
together  for  the  flea,  Baba  Mustapha  fidgeted  and  worried 
in  his  seat,  lurching  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  muttering 
curses ;  and  it  was  evident  he  too  was  persecuted,  and  there 
was  no  peace  on  the  roof  of  that  palace,  but  pinching  and 
howling  and  stretching  of  limbs,  and  curses  snarled  in  the 
throat  and  imprecations  on  the  head  of  the  tormenting  flea. 
Surely,  the  soul  of  Kadza  rejoiced,  for  she  knew  the  flea 
was  Karaz,  whom  she  had  brought  with  her  in  the  loose  loop 
of  her  girdle  through  the  circle  of  flame  which  was  a  barrier 
against  him.  She  glistened  at  the  triumph  of  the  flea,  but 
Noorna  strode  to  her,  and  took  her  to  the  side  of  the  roof, 
and  pitched  her  down  it,  and  closed  the  passage  to  her. 
Then  ran  she  to  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh,  whispering  in 
the  ear  of  each,  "  No  word  of  the  Sword  ?  "  and  afterward 
aloud,  "  What  think  ye  will  be  the  term  of  the  staying  of 
my  betrothed  in  Aklis,  crowned  ape  ?  " 

They  answered,  "  O  pearl  of  the  morn,  crowned  ape  till 
such  time  as  Shagpat  be  shaved." 

So  she  beat  her  breast,  crying,  "  Oh,  utter  stagnation,  till 
Shagpat  be  shaved !  and  oh,  stoppage  in  the  tide  of  business, 
dense  cloud  upon  the  face  of  beauty,  and  frost  on  the  river 
of  events,  till  Shagpat  be  shaved !  And  oh  !  my  betrothed, 
crowned  ape  in  Aklis  till  Shagpat  be  shaved ! " 

Then  she  lifted  her  hands  and  arms,  and  said,  "  To  him 
where  he  is,  ye  Genii !  and  away,  for  he  needeth  comfort." 

Thereat  the  glittering  spirits  dissolved  and  thinned,  and 
were  as  taper  gleams  of  curved  light  across  the  water  in 


214  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

their  ascent  of  the  heavens.  When  they  were  gone  Noorna 
exclaimed,  "  Now  for  the  dish  of  pomegranate  grain,  0  Baba 
Mustapha,  and  let  nothing  delay  us  further." 

Quoth  Baba  Mustapha,  "  'T  is  ordered,  0  my  princess  and 
fair  mistress,  from  the  confectioner's ;  and  with  it  the  sleepy 
drug  from  the  seller  of  medicaments  —  0  accursed  flea  !  " 

Now,  she  laughed,  and  said,  "What  am  I,  0  Baba 
Mustapha  ?  " 

So  he  said,  "Not  thou,  0  bright  shooter  of  beams,  but 
I,  wullahy  !  I  'm  but  a  bundle  of  points  through  the  perti- 
nacity of  this  flea !  a  house  of  irritabilities !  a  mere  mass  of 
f retfulness  !  and  I  've  no  thought  but  for  the  chasing  of  this 
unlucky  flea :  was  never  flea  like  it  in  the  world  before  this 
flea ;  and  't  is  a  flea  to  anger  the  holy  ones,  and  make  the 
saintly  Dervish  swear  at  such  a  flea."  He  wriggled  and 
curled  where  he  sat,  and  Noorna  cried,  "What !  shall  we  be 
defeated  by  a  flea,  we  that  would  shave  Shagpat,  and  release 
this  city  and  the  world  from  bondage  ?  "  And  she  looked 
up  to  the  sky  that  was  then  without  a  cloud,  blazing  with 
the  sun  on  his  mid  seat,  and  exclaimed,  "  0  star  of  Shagpat '. 
wilt  thou  constantly  be  in  the  ascendant,  and  defeat  us,  the 
liberators  of  men,  with  a  flea  ?  " 

Now,  whenever  one  of  the  twain,  Baba  Mustapha  and  the 
Vizier  Feshnavat,  commenced  speaking  of  the  dish  of  pome- 
granate grain,  the  torment  of  the  flea  took  all  tongue  from 
him,  and  was  destruction  to  the  gravity  of  council  and  de- 
liberation. The  dish  of  pomegranate  grain  was  brought  to 
them  by  slaves,  and  the  drug  to  induce  sleep,  yet  neither 
could  say  aught  concerning  it,  they  were  as  jointy  grass- 
hoppers through  the  action  of  the  flea,  and  the  torment  of 
the  flea  became  a  madness,  they  shrieking,  "  JT  is  now  with 
thee  !  'T  is  now  with  me  !  Fires  of  the  damned  on  this 
flea ! "  In  their  extremity,  they  called  to  Allah  for  help, 
but  no  help  came,  save  when  they  abandoned  all  speech 
concerning  the  dish  of  pomegranate  grain,  then  were  they 
for  a  moment  eased  of  the  flea.  So  Noorna  recognized  the 
presence  of  her  enemy  Karaz,  and  his  malicious  working  • 
and  she  went  and  fetched  a  jar  brimmed  with  water  for  the 
bath,  and  stirred  it  with  her  forefinger,  and  drew  on  it  a  flame 
from  the  rays  of  the  sun  till  there  rose  up  from  the  jar  a 
white  thick  smoke.  She  rustled  her  raiment,  making  the 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN  215 

wind  of  it  collect  round  Baba  Mustapha  and  Feshnavat,  and 
did  this  till  the  sweat  streamed  from  their  brows  and  bodies, 
and  they  were  sensible  of  peace  and  the  absence  of  the  flea. 
Then  she  whisked  away  the  smoke,  and  they  were  attended 
by  slaves  with  fresh  robes,  and  were  as  new  men,  and  sat 
together  over  the  dish  of  pomegranate  grain,  praising  the 
wisdom  of  Noorna  and  her  power.  Then  Baba  Mustapha 
revived  in  briskness,  and  cried,  "  Here  the  dish  !  and  't  is  in 
my  hands  an  instrument,  an  instrument  of  vengeance  !  and 
one  to  endow  the  skilful  wielder  of  it  with  glory.  And 
't  is  as  I  designed  it,  —  sweet,  seasoned,  savoury,  —  a  flattery 
to  the  eye  and  no  deceiver  to  the  palate.  Wah !  and  such 
an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  the  discerning  and  the  dex- 
terous, and  the  discreet  and  the  judicious,  and  them  gifted 
with  determination,  is  't  not  such  as  sufficeth  for  the  over- 
turning of  empires  and  systems,  0  my  mistress,  fair  one, 
sapphire  of  this  city  ?  And  is  't  not  written  that  I  shall 
beguile  Shagpat  by  its  means,  and  master  the  Event,  and 
shame  the  King  of  Oolb  and  his  Court  ?  And  I  shall  then 
sit  in  state  among  men.  and  surround  myself  with  adorn- 
ments and  with  slaves,  mute,  that  speak  not  save  at  the 
signal,  and  are  as  statues  round  the  cushions  of  their  lord  — 
that 's  myself.  And  I  shall  surround  myself  with  the 
flatteries  of  wealth,  and  walk  bewildered  in  silks  and 
stuffs  and  perfumeries;  and  sweet  young  beauties  shall  I 
have  about  me,  antelopes  of  grace,  as  I  like  them,  and 
select  them,  long-eyed,  lazy,  fond  of  listening,  and  with 
bashful  looks  that  timidly  admire  the  dignity  that's  in 
man." 

While  he  was  prating  Noorna  took  the  dish  in  her  lap, 
and  folded  her  silvery  feet  beneath  her,  and  commenced 
whipping  into  it  the  drug :  and  she  whipped  it  dexterously 
and  with  equal  division  among  the  grain,  whipping  it  and 
the  flea  with  it,  but  she  feigned  not  to  mark  the  flea  and 
whipped  harder.  Then  took  she  colour  and  coloured  it 
saffron,  and  laid  over  it  gold-leaf,  so  that  it  glittered  and 
was  an  enticing  sight ;  and  the  dish  was  of  gold,  crusted 
over  with  devices  and  patterns,  and  heads  of  golden  mon- 
sters, a  ravishment  of  skill  in  him  that  executed  it,  cumbrous 
with  ornate  golden  workmanship ;  likewise  there  were  places 
round  the  dish  for  sticks  of  perfume  and  cups  carved  for 


216  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

the  storing  of  perfumed  pellets,  and  into  these  Noorna  put 
myrrh  and  ambergris  and  rich  incenses,  aloes,  sandalwood, 
prepared  essences,  divers  keen  and  sweet  scents.  Then 
when  all  was  in  readiness,  she  put  the  dish  upon  the  knee 
of  Baba  Mustapha,  and  awoke  him  from  his  babbling  reverie 
with  a  shout,  and  said,  "An  instrument  verily,  0  Baba 
Mustapha !  and  art  thou  a  cat  to  shave  Shagpat  with  that 
tongue  of  thine  ?  " 

Now,  he  arose  and  made  the  sign  of  obedience  and  said, 
"  *T  is  well,  0  lady  of  grace  and  bright  wit!  and  now  for  the 
cap  of  Shiraz  and  the  Persian  robe,  and  my  twenty  slaves 
and  seven  to  follow  me  to  the  mansion  of  Shagpat.  I  '11 
do:  I'll  act." 

So  she  motioned  to  a  slave  to  bring  the  cap  of  Shiraz  and 
the  Persian  robe,  and  in  these  Baba  Mustapha  arrayed  him- 
self. Then  called  he  for  the  twenty-and-seven  slaves,  and 
they  were  ranged,  some  to  go  before,  some  to  follow  him. 
And  he  was  exalted,  and  made  the  cap  of  Shiraz  nod  in 
his  conceit,  crying,  "Am  I  not  leader  in  this  complot? 
Wullahy!  all  bow  to  me  and  acknowledge  it."  Then,  to 
check  himself,  he  called  out  sternly  to  the  slaves,  "  Ho  ye  ! 
forward  to  the  mansion  of  Shagpat;  and  pass  at  a  slow 
pace  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  solemnly,  gravely,  as 
before  a  potentate;  then  will  the  people  inquire  of  ye, 
Who 't  is  ye  marshal,  and  what  mighty  one  ?  and  ye  will 
answer,  He  Js  from  the  court  of  Shiraz,  —  nothing  less  than 
a  Vizier  —  bearing  homage  to  Shagpat,  even  this  dish  of 
pomegranate  grain." 

So  they  said,  "  To  hear  is  to  obey." 

Upon  that  he  waved  his  hand  and  stalked  majestically, 
and  they  descended  from  the  roof  into  the  street,  criers 
running  in  front  to  clear  the  way.  When  Baba  Mustapha 
was  hidden  from  view  by  a  corner  of  the  street,  Noorna 
shrank  in  her  white  shoulders  and  laughed,  and  was  like 
a  flashing  pearl  as  she  swayed  and  dimpled  with  laughter. 
And  she  cried,  "True  are  those  words  of  the  poet,  and  I 
testify  to  them  in  the  instance  of  Baba  Mustapha: 

'With  feathers  of  the  cock,  T  '11  fashion  a  vain  creature ; 
With  feathers  of  the  owl,  I  '11  make  a  judge  in  feature ; 

Is  not  the  barber  elate  and  lofty  ?    He  goeth  forth  to  the 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN  217 

mastery  of  this  Event  as  go  many,  armed  with  nought  other 
than  their  own  conceit :  and  't  is  written : 

'  Fools  from  their  fate  seek  not  to  urge : 
The  coxcomb  carrieth  his  scourge.' 

So  Feshnavat  smoothed  his  face,  and  said,  "  Is 't  not  also 
written  ?  — 

'  Oft  may  the  fall  of  fools  make  wise  men  moan ! 
Too  often  hangs  the  house  on  one  loose  stone  I ' 

'T  is  so,  0  Noorna,  my  daughter,  and  I  am  as  a  reed  shaken 
by  the  wind  of  apprehensiveness,  and  doubt  in  me  is  a  deep 
root  as  to  the  issue  of  this  undertaking,  for  the  wrath  of  the 
King  will  be  terrible,  and  the  clamour  of  the  people  sound- 
eth  in  my  ears  already.  If  Shibli  Bagarag  fail  in  one 
stroke,  where  be  we  ?  'T  is  certain  I  knew  not  the  might 
in  Shagpat  when  I  strove  with  him,  and  he's  powerful 
beyond  the  measure  of  man's  subtlety ;  and  yonder  flies  a 
rook  without  fellow  —  an  omen ;  and  all 's  ominous,  and 
ominous  of  ill :  and  I  marked  among  the  troop  of  slaves 
that  preceded  Baba  Mustapha  one  that  squinted,  and  that 's 
an  omen ;  and,  0  my  daughter,  I  counsel  that  thou  by  thy 
magic  speed  us  to  some  remote  point  in  the  Caucasus,  where 
we  may  abide  the  unravelling  of  this  web  securely,  one  way 
or  the  other  way.  'T  is  my  counsel,  0  Noorna." 

Then  she,  "  Abandon  my  betrothed  ?  and  betray  him  on 
the  very  stroke  of  the  Sword?  and  diminish  him  by  a 
withdrawal  of  that  faith  in  his  right  wrist  which  strength- 
eneth  it  more  than  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh  wound  round 
it  in  coils  ?  "  And  she  leaned  her  head,  and  cried,  "  Hark ! 
hear'st  thou  ?  there 's  shouting  in  the  streets  of  Shiraz  and 
of  Shagpat !  Shall  we  merit  the  punishment  of  Shahpesh 
the  Persian  on  Khipil  the  builder,  while  the  Event  is  master- 
ing ?  I  '11  mark  this  interview  between  Baba  Mustapha  and 
Shagpat ;  and  do  thou,  0  my  father,  rest  here  on  this  roof 
till  the  King's  guard  of  horsemen  and  soldiers  of  the  law 
come  hither  for  thee,  and  go  with  them  sedately,  fearing 
nought,  for  I  shall  be  by  thee  in  the  garb  of  an  old  woman ; 
and  preserve  thy  composure  in  the  presence  of  the  King 
and  Shagpat  exalted,  and  allow  not  the  thing  that  happen- 
eth  let  fly  from  thee  the  shaft  of  speech,  but  remain  a 


218  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAQPAT 

slackened  bow  till  the  strength  of  my  betrothed  is  testified, 
fearing  nought,  for  fear  is  that  which  defeateth  men,  and 
'tis  declared  in  a  distich, — 

'  The  strongest  weapon  one  can  see 
In  mortal  hands  is  Constancy.' 

And  for  us  to  flee  now  would  rank  us  with  that  King  de- 
scribed by  the  poet : 

'A  king  of  Ind  there  was  who  fought  a  fight 
From  the  first  gleam  of  morn  till  fall  of  night ; 
But  when  the  royal  tent  his  generals  sought, 
Proclaiming  victory,  fled  was  he  who  fought. 
Despair  possessed  them,  till  they  chanced  to  spy 
A  Dervish  that  paced  on  with  downward  eye  ; 
They  questioned  of  the  King  ;  he  answer'd  slow, 
"Ye  fought  but  one,  the  King  a  double,  foe.'" 

And,  0  my  father,  they  interpreted  of  this  that  the  King 
had  been  vanquished,  he  that  was  victor,  by  the  phantom 
army  of  his  fears." 

Now,  the  Vizier  cried,  "  Be  the  will  of  Allah  achieved 
and  consummated!"  and  he  was  silenced  by  her  wisdom 
and  urgency,  and  sat  where  he  was,  diverting  not  the  arch 
on  his  brow  from  its  settled  furrow.  He  was  as  one  that 
thirsteth,  and  whose  eye  hath  marked  a  snake  of  swift 
poison  by  the  water,  so  thirsted  he  for  the  Event,  yet  hung 
with  dread  from  advancing ;  but  Noorna  bin  Noorka  busied 
herself  about  the  roof,  drawing  circles  to  witness  the  track 
of  an  enemy,  and  she  clapped  her  hands  and  cried, 
"  Luloo ! "  and  lo,  a  fair  slave-girl  that  came  to  her  and 
stood  by  with  bent  head,  like  a  white  lily  by  a  milk-white 
antelope ;  so  Noorna  clouded  her  brow  a  moment,  as  when 
the  moon  darkeneth  behind  a  scud,  and  cried,  "  Speak  !  art 
thou  in  league  with  Karaz,  girl  ?  " 

Luloo  strained  her  hands  to  her  temples,  exclaiming, 
"  With  the  terrible  Genie  ?  —  I  ?  —  in  league  with  him  ? 

0  my  mistress,  surely  the  charms  I  wear,  and  the  amulets, 

1  wear  them  as  a  protection  from  that  Genie,  and  a  safe- 
guard, he  that  carrieth  off  the  maidens  and  the  young  suck- 
lings, walking  under  the  curse  of  mothers." 

Said  Noorna,  "  0  Luloo,  have  I  boxed  those  little  ears  of 
thine  this  dav  ?  " 


THE  DISH  OP  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN  219 

The  fair  slave-girl  smiled  a  smile  of  submissive  tender- 
ness, and  answered,  "  Not  this  day,  nor  once  since  Luloo  was 
rescued  from  the  wicked  old  merchant  by  thy  overbidding, 
and  was  taken  to  the  arms  of  a  wise  kind  sister,  wiser  and 
kinder  than  any  she  had  been  stolen  from,  she  that  is  thy 
slave  for  ever." 

She  said  this  weeping,  and  Noorna  mused,  "  'T  was  as  I 
divined,  that  wretched  Kadza  :  her  grief 's  to  come ! " 
Then  spake  she  aloud  as  to  herself,  "  Knew  I,  or  could  one 
know,  I  should  this  day  be  a  bride  ?  "  And,  hearing  that, 
Luloo  shrieked,  "  Thou  a  bride,  and  torn  from  me,  and  we 
two  parted  ?  and  I,  a  poor  drooping  tendril,  left  to  wither  ? 
for  my  life  is  round  thee  and  worthless  away  from  thee,  0 
cherisher  of  the  fallen  flower." 

And  she  sobbed  out  wailful  verses  and  words,  broken  and 
without  a  meaning ;  but  Noorna  caught  her  by  the  arm  and 
swung  her,  and  bade  her  fetch  on  the  instant  a  robe  of  blue, 
and  pile  in  her  chamber  robes  of  amber  and  saffron  and 
grey,  bridal-robes  of  many-lighted  silks,  plum-coloured, 
peach-coloured,  of  the  colour  of  musk  mixed  with  pale 
gold,  together  with  bridal  ornaments  and  veils  of  the  bride, 
and  a  jewelled  circlet  for  the  brow.  When  this  was  done, 
Noorna  went  with  Luloo  to  her  chamber,  attended  by  slave- 
girls,  and  arrayed  herself  in  the  first  dress  of  blue,  and 
swayed  herself  before  the  mirror,  and  rattled  the  gold 
pieces  in  her  hair  and  on  her  neck  with  laughter.  And 
Luloo  was  bewildered,  and  forgot  her  tears  to  watch  the 
gaiety  of  her  mistress ;  and  lo !  Noorna  made  her  women 
take  off  one  set  of  ornaments  with  every  dress,  and  with 
every  dress  she  put  on  another  set;  and  after  she  had  gone 
the  round  of  the  different  dresses,  she  went  to  the  bath- 
room with  Luloo,  and  at  her  bidding  Luloo  entered  the  bath 
beside  Noorna,  and  the  twain  dipped  and  shouldered  in  the 
blue  water,  and  were  as  when  a  single  star  is  by  the  full 
moon  on  a  bright  midnight  pouring  lustre  about.  And 
Noorna  splashed  Luloo,  and  said,  "  This  night  we  shall 
not  sleep  together,  O  Luloo,  nor  lie  close,  thy  bosom  on 
mine." 

Thereat,  Luloo  wept  afresh,  and  cried,  "  Ah,  cruel !  and 
'tis  a  sweet  thought  for  thee,  and  thou'lt  have  no  mind  for 
me.  tossing  on  my  hateful  lonely  couch." 


220  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

Tenderly  Noorna  eyed  Luloo,  and  the  sprinkles  of  the 
bath  fell  with  the  tears  of  both,  and  they  clung  together, 
and  were  like  the  lily  and  its  bud  on  one  stalk  in  a  shower. 
Then,  Avhen  Noorna  had  spent  her  affection,  she  said,  "  0 
thou  of  the  long  downward  lashes,  thy  love  was  constant 
when  I  stood  under  a  curse  and  was  an  old  woman  —  a 
hag  !  Carest  thou  so  little  to  learn  the  name  of  him  that 
claimeth  me  ?  " 

Luloo  replied,  "  I  thought  of  no  one  save  myself  and  my 
loss,  0  my  lost  pearl ;  happy  is  he,  a  youth  of  favour.  Oh, 
how  I  shall  hate  him  that  taketh  thee  from  me.  Tell  me 
now  his  name,  O  sovereign  of  hearts  1 " 

So  Noorna  smoothed  the  curves  and  corners  of  her  mouth 
and  calmed  her  countenance,  crying  in  a  deep  tone  and  a 
voice  as  of  reverence,  "  Shagpat ! " 

Now,  at  that  name  Luloo  drank  in  her  breath  and  was 
awed,  and  sank  in  herself,  and  had  just  words  to  ask,  "  Hath 
he  demanded  thee  again  in  marriage,  O  my  mistress  ?  " 

Said  Noorna,  "  Even  so." 

Luloo  muttered,  "  Great  is  the  Dispenser  of  our  fates !  " 

And  she  spake  no  further,  but  signed  and  took  napkins 
and  summoned  the  slave-girls,  and  arrayed  Noorna  silently 
in  the  robe  of  blue  and  bridal  ornaments.  Then  Noorna 
said  to  them  that  thronged  about  her,  "  Put  on,  each  of  ye, 
a  robe  of  white,  ye  that  are  maidens,  and  a  fillet  of  blue 
and  a  sash  of  saffron,  and  abide  my  coming." 

And  she  said  to  Luloo,  "  Array  thyself  in  a  robe  of  blue, 
even  as  mine,  and  let  trinkets  lurk  in  thy  tresses,  and  abide 
my  coming." 

Then  went  she  forth  from  them,  and  veiled  her  head  and 
swathed  her  figure  in  raiment  of  a  coarse  white  stuff,  and 
was  as  the  moon  going  behind  a  hill  of  dusky  snow ;  and 
she  left  the  house,  and  passed  along  the  streets  and  by  the 
palaces,  till  she  came  to  the  palace  of  her  father,  now  filled 
by  Shagpat.  Before  the  palace  grouped  a  great  concourse 
and  a  multitude  of  all  ages  and  either  sex  in  that  city,  de- 
spite the  blaze  and  the  heat.  Like  roaring  of  a  sea  beyond 
the  mountains  was  the  noise  that  issued  from  them,  and 
their  eyes  were  a  fire  of  beams  against  the  portal  of  the 
palace.  Now,  she  saw  in  the  crowd  one  Shafrac,  a  shoe- 
maker, and  addressed  him.  saying,  "  O  Shafrac  the  shoe- 


THE  DISH  OF   POMEGRANATE  GRAIN  221 

maker,  what 's  this  assembly,  and  how  got  together  ?  for 
the  poet  says : 

'  Ye  string  not  such  assemblies  in  the  street, 
Save  when  some  high  Event  should  be  complete.' " 

He  answered,  "  'T  is  an  Event  complete.  Wullahy !  the 
deputation  from  Shiraz  to  Shagpat,  and  the  submission  of 
that  vain  city  to  the  might  of  Shagpat."  And  he  asked 
her,  jestingly,  "  Art  thou  a  witch,  to  guess  that,  0  veiled 
and  virtuous  one  ?  " 

Quoth  she,  "  I  read  the  thing  that  cometh  ere  't  is  come, 
and  I  read  danger  to  Shagpat  in  this  deputation  from 
Shiraz,  and  this  dish  of  pomegranate  grain." 

So  Shaf  rac  cried,  "  By  the  beard  of  my  fathers  and  that 
of  Shagpat!  let's  speak  of  this  to  Zeel,  the  garlic-seller." 

He  broadened  to  one  that  was  by  him,  and  said,  "0 
Zeel,  what's  thy  mind?  Here  's  a  woman,  a  wise  woman, 
a  witch,  and  she  sees  danger  to  Shagpat  in  this  deputation 
from  Shiraz  and  this  dish  of  pomegranate  grain." 

Now,  Zeel  screwed  his  visage  and  gazed  up  into  his  fore- 
head, and  said,  "  'T  were  best  to  consult  with  Bootlbac,  the 
drum-beater." 

The  two  then  called  to  Bootlbac,  the  drum-beater,  and 
told  him  the  matter,  and  Bootlbac  pondered,  and  tapped  his 
brow  and  beat  on  his  stomach,  and  said,  "  Krooz  el  Kraza- 
wik,  the  carrier,  is  good  in  such  a  case." 

Now,  from  Krooz  el  Krazawik,  the  carrier,  they  went  to 
Dob,  the  confectioner ;  and  from  Dob,  the  confectioner,  to 
Azawool,  the  builder;  and  from  Azawool,  the  builder,  to 
Tcheik,  the  collector  of  taxes;  and  each  referred  to  some 
other,  till  perplexity  triumphed  and  was  a  cloud  over  them, 
and  the  words,  "  Danger  to  Shagpat,"  went  about  like  bees, 
and  were  canvassing,  when  suddenly  a  shrill  voice  rose 
from  the  midst,  dominating  other  voices,  and  it  was  that  of 
Kadza,  and  she  cried,  "  Who  talks  here  of  danger  to  Shag- 
pat,  and  what  wretch  is  it?" 

Now,  Tcheik  pointed  out  Azawool,  and  Azawool  Dob, 
and  Dob  Krooz  el  Krazawik,  and  he  Bootlbac,  and  the 
drum-beater  shrugged  his  shoulder  at  Zeel,  and  Zeel  stood 
away  from  Shaf  rac,  and  Shafrac  seized  Noorna  and  shouted, 
"  'T  is  she,  this  woman,  the  witch ! " 


222  THE  SHAVING  OP   SHAGPAT 

Kadza  fronted  Noorna,  and  called  to  her,  "  0  thing  of 
fnfarny,  what 's  this  talk  of  thine  concerning  danger  to  our 
glory,  Shagpat  ?  " 

Then  Noorna  replied,  "  I  say  it,  0  Kadza !  and  I  say  it ; 
tnere  's  danger  threateneth  him,  and  from  that  deputation 
and  that  dish  of  pomegranate  grain." 

Now,  Kadza  laughed  a  loose  laugh,  and  jeered  at  Noorna, 
crying,  "  Danger  to  Shagpat !  he  that 's  attended  by  Genii, 
and  watched  over  by  the  greatest  of  them,  day  and  night 
incessantly  ?  " 

And  Noorna  said,  "I  ask  pardon  of  the  Power  that 
seeth,  and  of  thee,  if  I  be  wrong.  Wah !  am  I  not  also  of 
them  that  watch  over  Shagpat  ?  So  then  let  thou  and  I  go 
into  the  palace  and  examine  the  doings  of  this  deputation 
and  this  dish  of  pomegranate  grain." 

Now,  Kadza  remembered  the  scene  on  the  roofs  of  the 
Vizier  Feshnavat,  and  relaxed  in  her  look  of  suspicion,  and 
said,  "  'T  is  well !  Let 's  in  to  them." 

Thereupon  the  twain  threaded  through  the  crowd  and 
knocked  at  the  portals  of  the  palace,  and  it  was  opened  to 
them  and  they  entered,  and  lo  I  the  hand  that  opened  the 
portals  was  the  hand  of  a  slave  of  the  Sword,  and  against 
corners  of  the  Court  leaned  slaves  silly  with  slumber.  So 
Kadza  went  up  to  them,  and  beat  them,  and  shook  them, 
and  they  yawned  and  mumbled,  "Excellent  grain!  good 
grain !  the  grain  of  Shiraz ! u  And  she  beat  them  with 
what  might  was  hers,  till  some  fell  sideways  and  some  for- 
ward, still  mumbling,  "  Excellent  pomegranate  grain  ! " 
Kadza  was  beside  herself  with  anger  and  vexation  at  them, 
tearing  them  and  cuffing  them ;  but  Noorna  cried,  "  0 
Kadza!  what  said  I?  there's  danger  to  Shagpat  in  this 
dish  of  pomegranate  grain !  and  what 's  that  saying : 

"Tis  much  against  the  Master's  wish 
That  slaves  too  greatly  praise  his  dish.' 

Wullahy!  I  like  not  this  talk  of  the  grain  of  Shiraz." 

Now,  while  Noorna  spake,  the  eyes  of  Kadza  became 
like  those  of  the  starved  wild-cat,  and  she  sprang  off  and 
along  the  marble  of  the  Court,  and  clawed  a  passage 
through  the  air  and  past  the  marble  pillars  of  the  palace 
toward  the  first  room  of  reception,  Noorna  following  her. 


THE  DISH  OP  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN  223 

And  in  the  first  room  were  slaves  leaning  and  lolling  like 
them  about  the  Court,  and  in  the  second  room  and  in  the 
third  room,  silent  all  of  them  and  senseless.  So  at  this 
sight  the  spark  of  suspicion  became  a  mighty  flame  in  the 
bosom  of  Kadza,  and  horror  burst  out  at  all  ends  of  her, 
and  she  shuddered,  and  cried,  "  What  for  us,  and  where 's 
our  hope  if  Shagpat  be  shorn,  and  he  lopped  of  the  Iden- 
tical, shamed  like  the  lion  of  my  dream !  " 

And  Noorna  clasped  her  hands,  and  said,  "  'T  is  that  I 
fear !  Seek  for  him,  0  Kadza!  " 

So  Kadza  ran  to  a  window  and  looked  forth  over  the 
garden  of  the  palace,  and  it  was  a  fair  garden  with  the 
gleam  of  a  fountain  and  watered  plants  and  cool  arches  of 
shade,  thick  bowers,  fragrant  alleys,  long  sheltered  terraces, 
and  beyond  the  garden  a  summer-house  of  marble  fanned 
by  the  broad  leaves  of  a  palm.  Now,  when  Kadza  had 
gazed  a  moment,  she  shrieked,  "He's  there!  Shagpat! 
giveth  he  not  the  light  of  a  jewel  to  the  house  that  holdeth 
him  ?  Awahy  !  and  he 's  witched  there  for  an  ill  purpose." 

Then  tore  she  from  that  room  like  a  mad  wild  thing 
after  its  stolen  cubs,  and  sped  along  corridors  of  the  pal- 
ace, and  down  the  great  flight  of  steps  into  the  garden  and 
across  the  garden,  knocking  over  the  ablution-pots  in  her 
haste ;  and  Noorna  had  just  strength  to  withhold  her  from 
dashing  through  the  doors  of  the  summer-house  to  come 
upon  Shagpat,  she  straining  and  crying,  "  He 's  there,  I 
say,  0  wise  woman!  Shagpat!  let's  in  to  him." 

But  Noorna  clung  to  her,  and  spake  in  her  ear,  "  Wilt 
thou  blow  the  fire  that  menaces  him,  O  Kadza?  and  what 
are  two  women  against  the  assailants  of  such  a  mighty 
one  as  he?"  Then  said  she,  "Watch,  rather,  and  avail 
thyself  of  yonder  window  by  the  blue-painted  pillar." 

So  Kadza  crept  up  to  the  blue-painted  pillar  which  was 
on  the  right  side  of  the  porch,  and  the  twain  peered 
through  the  window.  Noorna  beheld  the  Dish  of  Pome- 
granate Grain ;  and  it  was  on  the  floor,  empty  of  the  grain, 
and  Baba  Mustapha  was  by  it  alone  making  a  lather,  and 
he  was  twitching  his  mouth  and  his  legs,  and  flinging  about 
his  arms,  and  Noorna  heard  him  mutter  wrathfully,  "0 
accursed  flea !  art  thou  at  me  again  ? "  And  she  heard 
him  mutter  as  in  anguish,  "No  peace  for  thee,  0  pertina- 


224  THE   SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

cious  flea!  and  my  steadiness  of  hand  will  be  gone,  now 
when  I  have  him  safe  as  the  hawk  his  prey,  mine  enemy, 
this  Shagpat  that  abused  me :  thou  abominable  flea !  And, 
0  thou  flea,  wilt  thou,  vile  thing  !  hinder  me  from  master- 
ing the  Event,  and  releasing  this  people  and  the  world 
from  enchantment  and  bondage  ?  And  shall  I  fail  to  be- 
come famous  to  the  ages  and  the  times  because  of  such  as 
thee,  0  flea  ?  " 

So  Kadza  whispered  to  Noorna,  "What's  that  he's 
muttering?  Is't  of  Shagpat?  for  I  mark  him  not  here, 
nor  the  light  by  which  he 's  girt." 

She  answered,  "  Listen  with  the  ear  and  the  eye  and  all 
the  senses." 

Now,  presently  they  heard  Baba  Mustapha  say  in  a 
louder  tone,  like  one  that  is  secure  from  interruption, 
"  Two  lathers,  and  this  the  third  !  a  potent  lather !  and  I 
wot  there  's  not  a  hair  in  this  world  resisteth  the  sweep  of 
my  blade  over  such  a  lather  as  —  Ah !  flea  of  iniquity  and 
abomination!  what!  am  I  doomed  to  thy  torments?  —  so 
let 's  spread !  Lo !  this  lather,  is 't  not  the  pride  of  Shi- 
raz  ?  and  the  polish  and  smoothness  it  sheddeth,  is 't  not 
roseate  ?  my  invention !  as  the  poet  says,  —  O  accursed 
flea !  now  the  knee-joint,  now  the  knee-cap,  and  't  is  but  a 
hop  for  thee  to  the  arm-pit.  Fires  of  the  pit  without  bot- 
tom seize  thee !  is  no  place  sacred  from  thee,  and  art  thou 
a  restless  soul,  infernal  flea  ?  So  then,  peace  awhile,  and 
here's  for  the  third  lather." 

While  he  was  speaking  Baba  Mustapha  advanced  to  a 
large  white  object  that  sat  motionless,  upright  like  a  snow- 
mound  on  a  throne  of  cushions,  and  commenced  lathering. 
When  she  saw  that,  Kadza  tossed  up  her  head  and  her 
throat,  and  a  shriek  was  coming  from  her,  for  she  was  ware 
of  Shagpat;  but  Noorna  stifled  the  shriek,  and  clutched 
her  fast,  whispering,  "  He 's  safe  if  thou  have  but  patience, 
thou  silly  Kadza !  and  the  flea  will  defeat  this  fellow  if 
thou  spoil  it  not." 

So  Kadza  said,  looking  up,  "  Is 't  seen  ^f  Allah,  and  be 
the  Grenii  still  in  their  depths?  "  but  she  constrained  herself, 
peering  and  perking  out  her  chin,  and  lifting  one  foot  and 
the  other  foot,  as  on  furnaces  of  fire  in  the  excess  of  the  fury 
ehe  smothered.  And  lo,  Baba  Mustapha  worked  diligently, 


THE  DISH  OP  POMEGBANATE  GBAIN  225 

and  Shagpat  was  behind  an  exulting  lather,  even  as  one  pelted 
with  wheaten  flour-balls  or  balls  of  powdery  perfume,  and 
his  hairiness  was  as  branches  of  the  forest  foliage  bent  under 
a  sudden  fall  of  overwhelming  snow  that  filleth  the  pits  and 
sharpeneth  the  wolves  with  hunger,  and  teacheth  new  cun- 
ning to  the  fox.  A  fox  was  Baba  Mustapha  in  his  stratagems, 
and  a  wolf  in  the  fierceness  of  his  setting  upon  Shagpat. 
Surely  he  drew  forth  the  blade  that  was  to  shear  Shagpat, 
and  made  with  it  in  the  air  a  preparatory  sweep  and  flourish ; 
and  the  blade  frolicked  and  sent  forth  a  light,  and  seemed 
eager  for  Shagpat.  So  Baba  Mustapha  addressed  his  arm  to 
the  shearing,  and  inclined  gently  the  edge  of  the  blade,  and 
they  marked  him  let  it  slide  twice  to  a  level  with  the  head 
of  Shagpat,  and  at  the  third  time  it  touched,  and  Kadza 
howled,  but  from  Baba  Mustapha  there  burst  a  howl  to 
madden  the  beasts ;  and  he  flung  up  his  blade,  and  wrenched 
open  his  robe,  crying,  "  A  flea  was  it  to  bite  in  that  fashion? 
Now,  I  swear  by  the  Merciful,  a  fang  like  that 's  common  to 
tigers  and  hyaenas  and  ferocious  animals." 

Then  looked  he  for  the  mark  of  the  bite,  plaining  of  its 
pang,  and  he  could  find  the  mark  nowhere.  So,  as  he  caressed 
himself,  eyeing  Shagpat  sheepishly  and  with  gathering  awe, 
Noorna  said  hurriedly  to  Kadza,  "Away  now,  and  call  them 
in,  the  crowd  about  the  palace,  that  they  may  behold  the 
triumph  of  Shagpat,  for 't  is  ripe,  0  Kadza !  " 

And  Kadza  replied,  "Thou'rt  a  wise  woman,  and  I'll 
have  thee  richly  rewarded.  Lo,  I  'm  as  a  camel  lightened 
of  fifty  loads,  and  the  glory  of  Shagpat  see  I  as  a  new  sun 
rising  in  the  desert.  Wullahy  I  thou  'rt  wise,  and  I  '11  do 
thy  bidding." 

Now,  she  went  flying  back  to  the  palace,  and  called  shrill 
calls  to  the  crowd,  and  collected  them  in  the  palace,  and 
headed  them  through  the  garden,  and  it  was  when  Baba  Mus- 
tapha had  summoned  courage  for  a  second  essay,  and  was  in 
the  act  of  standing  over  Shagpat  to  operate  on  him,  that  the 
crowd  burst  the  doors,  and  he  was  quickly  seized  by  them, 
and  tugged  at  and  hauled  at  and  pummelled,  and  torn  and 
vituperated,  and  as  a  wrecked  vessel  on  stormy  waters,  plung- 
ing up  and  down  with  tattered  sails,  when  the  crew  fling 
overboard  freight  and  ballast  and  provision.  Surely  his  time 
would  have  been  short  with  that  mob,  but  Noorna  made 

16 


226  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

Kadza  see  the  use  of  examining  him  before  the  King,  and 
there  were  in  that  mob  sheikhs  and  fakirs,  holy  men  who 
listened  to  the  words  of  Kadza,  and  exerted  themselves  to 
rescue  Baba  Mustapha,  and  quieted  the  rage  that  was  pre- 
vailing, and  bore  Baba  Mustapha  with  them  to  the  great 
palace  of  the  King,  which  was  in  the  centre  of  that  City. 
Now,  when  the  King  heard  of  the  attempt  on  Shagpat,  and 
the  affair  of  the  Pomegranate  Grain,  he  gave  orders  for  the 
admission  of  the  people,  as  many  of  them  as  could  be  con- 
tained in  the  Hall  of  Justice :  and  he  set  a  guard  over  Baba 
Mustapha,  and  commanded  that  Shagpat  should  be  brought 
to  the  palace  even  as  he  then  was,  and  with  the  lather  on 
him.  So  the  regal  mandate  went  forth,  and  Shagpat  was 
brought  in  state  on  cushions,  and  the  potency  of  the  drug 
preserved  his  sedateness  through  all  this,  and  he  remained 
motionless  in  sleep,  folded  in  the  centre  of  calm  and  satis- 
faction, while  this  tumult  was  rageing  and  the  City  shook 
with  uproar.  But  the  people,  when  they  saw  him  whitened 
behind  a  lather,  wrath  at  Baba  Mustapha's  polluting  touch 
and  the  audacity  of  barbercraft  wrestled  in  them  with  the 
outpouring  of  reverence  for  Shagpat,  and  a  clamour  arose 
for  the  instant  sacrifice  of  Baba  Mustapha  at  the  foot  of 
their  idol  Shagpat.  And  the  whole  of  the  City  of  Shagpat, 
men,  women,  and  children,  and  the  sheikhs  and  the  dervishes 
and  crafts  of  the  City  besieged  the  King's  palace  in  that 
middle  hour  of  the  noon,  clamouring  for  the  sacrifice  of 
Baba  Mustapha  at  the  feet  of  their  idol  Shagpat. 


THE  BURNING  OF  THE  IDENTICAL 


Now,  the  Great  Hall  for  the  dispensing  of  justice  in  the 
palace  of  the  King  was  one  on  which  the  architect  and  the 
artificers  had  lavished  all  their  arts  and  subtleties  of  design 
and  taste  and  their  conceptions  of  uniformity  and  grandeur, 
so  that  none  entered  it  without  a  sense  of  abasement,  and 
the  soul  acknowledged  awfulness  and  power  in  him  that 
ruled  and  sat  eminent  on  the  throne  of  that  Hall.  For,  lo! 
the  throne  was  of  solid  weighty  gold,  overhung  with  rich 
silks  and  purples ;  and  the  Hall  was  lofty,  with  massive  pil- 
lars, fifty  on  either  side,  ranging  in  stateliness  down  toward 
the  blaze  of  the  throne;  and  the  pillars  were  pillars  of 
porphyry  and  of  jasper  and  precious  marble,  carven  over  all 
of  them  with  sentences  of  the  cunningest  wisdom,  distichs 
of  excellence,  odes  of  the  poet,  stanzas  sharp  with  the  in- 
cisiveness  of  wit,  and  that  solve  knotty  points  with  but  one 
stroke;  and  these  pillars  were  each  the  gift  of  a  mighty 
potentate  of  earth  or  of  a  Genie. 

In  the  centre  of  the  Hall  a  fountain  sent  up  a  glittering 
jet,  and  spread  abroad  the  breath  of  freshness,  leaping  a 
height  of  sixty  feet,  and  shimmering  there  in  a  wide  bright 
canopy  with  dropping  silver  sides.  It  was  rumoured  of  the 
waters  of  this  fountain  that  they  were  fed  underground  from 
the  waters  of  the  Sacred  River,  brought  there  in  the  reign 
of  El  Rasoon,  a  former  sovereign  in  the  City  of  Shagpat,  by 
the  labours  of  Zak,  —  a  Genie  subject  to  the  magic  of 
Azrooka,  the  Queen  of  El  Rasoon ;  but,  of  a  surety,  none  of 
earth  were  like  to  them  in  silveriness  and  sweet  coolingness, 
and  they  were  as  wine  to  the  weary. 

Now,  the  King  sat  on  his  throne  in  the  Hall,  and  around 
him  his  ministers,  and  Emirs,  and  chamberlains,  and  officers 
of  state,  and  black  slaves,  and  the  soldiers  of  his  guard  armed 
with  naked  scimitars.  And  the  King  was  as  a  sun  in  splen- 
dour, severely  grave,  and  a  frown  on  his  forehead  to  darken 


228  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

kingdoms,  for  the  attempt  on  Shagpat  had  stirred  his  kingly 
wrath,  and  awakened  zeal  for  the  punishment  of  all  con- 
spirators and  offenders.  So  when  Shagpat  was  borne  in  to 
the  King  upon  his  throne  of  cushions  where  he  sat  upright, 
smiling  and  inanimate,  the  King  commanded  that  he  should 
be  placed  at  his  side,  the  place  of  honour ;  and  Shagpat  was 
as  a  moon  behind  the  whiteness  of  the  lathers;  even  as  we 
behold  moon  and  sun  together  in  the  heavens,  was  Shagpat 
by  the  King. 

There  was  great  hubbub  in  the  Hall  at  the  entrance  of 
Shagpat,  and  a  hum  of  rage  and  muttered  vehemence  passed 
among  the  assembled  people  that  filled  the  hall  like  a  cavern 
of  the  sea,  the  sea  roaring  outside;  but  presently  the  King 
spake,  and  all  hushed.  Then  said  he,  "  0  people  !  thought  I 
to  see  a  day  that  would  shame  Shagpat  ?  he  that  has  brought 
honour  and  renown  upon  me  and  all  of  this  city,  so  that 
we  shine  a  constellation  and  place  of  pilgrimage  to  men 
in  remote  islands  and  corners  of  the  earth  ?  Yea !  and  to 
Afrites  and  Genii?  Have  I  not  castigated  barbers,  and 
brought  barbercraft  to  degradation,  so  that  no  youth  is 
taught  to  exercise  it  ?  And  through  me  the  tackle  of  the 
barber,  is  't  not  a  rusty  and  abominated  weapon,  and  as  a 
sword  thrown  by  and  broken,  for  that  it  dishonoured  us  ? 
Surely,  too,  I  have  esteemed  Shagpat  precious." 

While  he  spake,  the  King  gazed  on  Shagpat,  and  was 
checked  by  passion  at  beholding  him  under  the  lather,  so 
that  the  people  praised  Shagpat  and  the  King.  Then  said 
he,  "  0  people,  who  shall  forecast  disasters  and  triumphs  ? 
Lo,  I  had  this  day  at  dawn  intelligence  from  recreant  Oolb, 
and  its  King  and  Court,  and  of  their  return  to  do  honour  to 
Shagpat!  And  I  had  this  day  at  dawn  tidings,  0  people, 
from  Shiraz,  and  of  the  adhesion  of  that  vain  city  and  its 
provinces  to  the  might  of  Shagpat  !  So  commenced  the 
day,  yet  is  he,  the  object  of  the  world's  homage,  within  a 
few  hours  defiled  by  a  lather  and  the  hand  of  an  impious 
one  ! " 

At  these  words  of  the  King  there  rose  a  shout  of  vindic- 
tiveness  and  fury;  but  he  cried,  "Punishment  on  the 
offenders  in  season,  0  people!  Probably  we  have  not 
abased  ourselves  for  the  honour  that  has  befallen  us  in 
Shagpat,  and  the  distinction  among  nations  and  tribes  and 


THE   BURNING   OF  THE  IDENTICAL  229 

races,  and  creeds  and  sects,  that  we  enjoy  because  of 
Siiagpat.  Behold !  in  abasement  voluntarily  undertaken 
there  is  exceeding  brightness  and  exaltation;  for  how  is 
the  sun  a  sun  save  that  daily  he  dippeth  in  darkness,  to 
rise  again  freshly  majestic  ?  So  then,  be  mine  the  example, 
0  people  of  the  City  of  Shagpat !  " 

Thereupon  lo,  the  King  descended  from  his  throne,  and 
stripped  to  the  loins,  flinging  away  his  glittering  crown  and 
his  robes,  and  abased  himself  to  the  dust  with  loud  cries 
and  importunities  and  howls,  and  penitential  ejaculations 
and  sobbings;  and  it  was  in  that  Hall  as  when  the  sun 
goeth  down  in  storm.  Likewise  the  ministers  of  the  King, 
and  the  Viziers  and  Emirs  and  officers  of  state,  and  slaves, 
and  soldiers  of  the  guard,  bared  their  limbs,  and  fell  beside 
the  King  with  violent  outcries  and  wailings ;  and  the  whole 
of  the  people  in  the  Hall  prostrated  their  bodies  with 
wailings  and  lamentations.  And  Baba  Mustapha  feigned  to 
bewail  himself,  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka  knelt  beside  Kadza, 
and  shrieked  loudest,  striking  her  breast  and  scattering  her 
hair ;  and  that  Hall  was  as  a  pit  full  of  serpents  writhing, 
and  of  tigers  and  lions  and  wild  beasts  howling,  each  pitch- 
ing his  howl  a  note  above  his  neighbours,  so  that  the  tone 
rose  and  sank,  and  there  was  no  one  soul  erect  in  that  Hall 
save  Shagpat,  he  on  his  throne  of  cushions  smiling  behind 
the  lathers,  inanimate,  serene  as  they  that  sin  not.  After  an 
hour's  lapse  there  came  a  pause,  and  the  people  hearkened 
for  the  voice  of  the  King;  but  in  the  intervals  a  louder 
moan  would  strike  their  ears,  and  they  whispered  among 
themselves,  "  'T  is  that  of  the  fakir,  El  Zoop ! "  and  the 
moaning  and  howling  prevailed  again.  And  again  they 
heard  another  moan,  a  deep  one,  as  of  the  earth  in  its  throes, 
and  said  among  themselves,  "'T  is  that  of  Bootlbac,  the  drum- 
beater  ! "  and  this  led  off  to  the  howl  of  Areep,  the  dervish ; 
and  this  was  followed  by  the  shriek  of  Zeel,  the  garlic- 
seller;  and  the  waul  of  Krooz  el  Krazawik,  the  carrier; 
and  the  complainings  of  Dob,  the  confectioner;  and  the 
groan  of  Sallap,  the  broker ;  and  the  yell  of  Azawool,  the 
builder.  There  would  have  been  no  end  to  it  known ;  but 
the  King  rose  and  commenced  plucking  his  beard  and  his 
hair,  —  they  likewise  in  silence.  When  he  had  performed 
this  ceremony  a  space,  the  King  called,  and  a  basin  of  water 


THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

was  brought  to  him,  and  handed  round  by  slaves,  and  a^l 
dipped  in  it  their  hands,  and  renewed  their  countenances 
and  re-arranged  their  limbs ;  and  the  Hall  brightened  with 
the  eye  of  the  King,  and  he  cried,  "  0  people,  lo,  the  plot 
is  revealed  to  me,  and  't  is  a  deep  one ;  but,  by  this  beard, 
we  '11  strike  at  the  root  of  it,  and  a  blow  of  deadliness. 
Surely  we  have  humiliated  ourselves,  and  vengeance  is 
ours  1  How  say  ye  ?  " 

A  noise  like  the  first  sullen  growl  of  a  vexed  wild  beast 
which  telleth  that  fury  is  fast  travelling  and  the  teeth  will 
flash,  followed  these  words ;  and  the  King  called  to  his 
soldiers  of  the  guard,  "Ho!  forth  with  this  wretch  that 
dared  defile  Shagpat,  the  holy  one !  and  on  your  heads  be 
it  to  fetch  hither  Feshnavat,  the  son  of  Feil,  that  was  my 
Vizier,  he  that  was  envious  of  Shagpat,  and  whom  we  spared 
in  our  clemency." 

Some  of  the  guard  went  from  the  Hall  to  fulfil  the  King's 
injunction  on  Feshnavat,  others  thrust  forth  Baba  Mustapha 
in  the  eyes  of  the  King.  Baba  Mustapha  was  quaking  as  a 
frog  quaketh  for  water,  and  he  trembled  and  was  a  tongue- 
less  creature  deserted  of  his  lower  limbs,  and  with  eyeballs 
goggling,  through  exceeding  terror.  Now,  when  the  King 
saw  him,  he  contracted  his  brows  as  one  that  peereth  on  a 
small  and  minute  object,  crying,  "How!  is  't  such  as  he, 
this  monster  of  audaciousness  and  horrible  presumption  ? 
Truly  't  is  said : 

'  For  ruin  and  the  deeds  preluding  change, 
Fear  not  great  Beasts,  nor  Eagles  when  they  range : 
But  dread  the  crawling  worm  or  pismire  mean, 
Satan  selects  them,  for  they  are  unseen.' 

And  this  wretch  is  even  of  that  sort,  the  select  of  Satan ! 
Off  with  the  top  of  the  reptile,  and  away  with  him ! " 

Now,  at  the  issue  of  the  mandate  Baba  Mustapha  choked, 
and  horror  blocked  the  throat  of  confession  in  him,  so  that 
he  did  nought  save  stagger  imploringly  ;  but  the  prompting 
of  Noorna  sent  Kadza  to  the  foot  of  the  throne,  and  Kadza 
bent  her  body  and  exclaimed,  "0  King  of  the  age!  'tis 
Kadza,  the  espoused  of  Shagpat  thy  servant,  that  speaketh ; 
and  lo !  a  wise  woman  has  said  in  my  ear,  '  How  if  this 
emissary  and  instrument  of  the  Evil  One,  this  barber,  this 


THE  BURNING  OF   THE  IDENTICAL  231 

filthy  fellow,  be  made  to  essay  on  Shagpat  before  the  people 
his  science  and  his  malice  ?  for  't  is  certain  that  Shagpat  is 
surrounded  where  he  sitteth  by  Genii  invisible,  defended  by 
them,  and  no  harm  can  hap  to  him,  but  an  illumination  of 
glory  and  triumph  manifest : '  and  for  this  barber,  his  pun- 
ishment can  afterwards  be  looked  to,  0  great  King !  " 

The  King  mused  awhile  and  sank  in  his  beard.  Then 
said  he  to  them  that  had  hold  of  Baba  Mustapha  watching 
for  the  signal,  "  I  have  thought  over  it,  and  the  means  of 
bringing  double  honour  on  the  head  of  Shagpat.  So  release 
this  fellow,  and  put  in  his  hands  the  tackle  taken  from 
him." 

This  was  done,  and  the  people  applauded  the  wisdom  of 
the  King,  and  crowded  forward  with  sharpness  of  expecta- 
tion; but  Baba  Mustapha,  when  he  felt  in  his  hands  the 
tackle,  the  familiar  instruments,  strength  and  wit  returned 
to  him  in  petty  measures,  and  he  thought,  "Perchance 
there  '11  yet  be  time  for  my  nephew  to  strike,  if  he  fail  me 
not ;  fool  that  I  was  to  look  for  glory,  and  not  leave  the 
work  to  him,  for  this  Shagpat  is  a  mighty  one,  powerful  in 
fleas,  and  it  needeth  something  other  than  tackle  to  combat 
such  as  he.  A  mighty  one,  said  I  ?  by  Allah,  he  's  awfu) 
in  his  mightiness!" 

So  Baba  Mustapha  kept  delaying,  and  feigned  to  sharpen 
the  blade,  and  the  King  called  to  him,  "  Haste  !  to  the  work ! 
is  it  for  thee,  vile  wretch,  to  make  preparation  for  the  ac- 
cursed thing  in  our  presence  ?  "  And  the  people  murmured 
and  waxed  impatient,  and  the  King  called  again,  "  Thou  'It 
essay  this,  thou  wretch,  without  a  head,  let  but  anothei 
minute  pass."  So  when  Baba  Mustapha  could  delay  no 
longer,  he  sighed  heavily  and  his  trembling  returned,  and 
the  power  of  Shagpat  smote  him  with  an  invisible  hand,  so 
that  he  could  scarce  move ;  but  dread  pricked  him  against 
dread,  and  he  advanced  upon  Shagpat  to  shear  him,  and 
assumed  the  briskness  of  the  barber,  and  was  in  the  act  of 
bending  over  him  to  bring  the  blade  into  play,  when,  behold, 
one  of  the  chamberlains  of  the  King  stood  up  in  the  presence 
and  spake  a  word  that  troubled  him,  and  the  King  rose  and 
hurried  to  a  balcony  looking  forth  on  the  Desert,  and  on 
three  sides  of  the  Desert  three  separate  clouds  of  dust  were 
visible,  and  from  these  clouds  presently  emerged  horsemen 


232  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

with  spears  and  pennons  and  plumes ;  and  he  could  discern 
the  flashing  of  their  helms  and  the  glistening  of  steel-plates 
and  armour  of  gold  and  silver.  Seeing  this,  the  colour  went 
from  the  cheeks  of  the  King  and  his  face  became  as  a  pinched 
pomegranate,  and  he  cried  aloud,  "  What  visitation  's  this? 
Awahy !  we  are  beset,  and  here 's  abasement  brought  on  us 
without  self-abasing!  "  Meantime  these  horsemen  detached 
themselves  from  the  main  bodies  and  advanced  at  a  gallop, 
wheeling  and  circling  around  each  other,  toward  the  walls 
of  the  city,  and  when  they  were  closed  they  lowered  their 
arms  and  made  signs  of  amity,  and  proclaimed  their  mis- 
sion and  the  name  of  him  they  served.  So  tidings  were 
brought  to  the  King  that  the  Lords  of  three  cities,  with  vast 
retinues,  were  come,  by  reason  of  a  warning,  to  pay  homage 
to  Shagpat,  the  son  of  Shimpoor ;  and  these  three  cities  were 
the  cities  of  Oolb,  and  of  Gaf,  and  of  Shiraz,  even  these ! 

Now,  when  the  King  heard  of  it,  he  rejoiced  with  an  ex- 
ceeding joy,  and  arrayed  himself  in  glory,  and  mounted  a 
charger,  the  pride  of  his  stables,  and  rode  out  to  meet  the 
Lords  of  the  three  cities  surrounded  by  the  horsemen  of  his 
guard.  And  it  was  within  half-a-mile  of  the  city  walls  that 
the  four  sovereigns  met,  and  dismounted  and  saluted  and 
embraced,  and  bestowed  on  one  another  kingly  flatteries, 
and  the  titles  of  Cousin  and  Brother.  So  when  the  unctions 
of  Royalty  were  over,  these  three  Kings  rode  back  to  the 
city  with  the  King  that  was  their  host,  and  the  horsemen 
of  the  three  kingdoms  pitched  their  tents  and  camped  out- 
side the  walls,  making  cheer.  Then  the  King  of  the  City 
of  Shagpat  related  to  the  three  Kings  the  story  of  Shagpat 
and  the  attempt  that  had  been  made  on  him ;  and  in  the 
great  Hall  of  Justice  he  ordained  the  erecting  of  thrones 
for  them  whereon  to  sit;  and  they,  when  they  had  paid 
homage  to  Shagpat,  sat  by  him  there  on  either  side.  Then 
the  King  cried,  "This  likewise  owe  we  to  Shagpat,  our 
glory  !  See,  now,  how  the  might  that 's  in  him  shall  defeat 
the  machinations  of  evil,  0  my  cousins  of  Oolb,  and  of  Gaf, 
and  of  Shiraz."  Thereupon  he  called,  "Bring  forth  the 
barber ! " 

So  Baba  Mustapha  was  thrust  forth  by  the  soldiers  of  the 
guard ;  and  the  King  of  Shiraz,  who  was  no  other  than  the 
great  King  Shahpushan,  exclaimed,  when  he  beheld  Baba 


THE  BURNING  OF  THE  IDENTICAL  233 

Mustapha,  "He?  why,  it  is  the  prince  of  barbers  and  talka- 
tive ones  !  Hath  he  not  operated  on  my  head,  the  head  of 
me  in  old  time?  Truly  now,  if  it  be  in  man  to  shave  Shag- 
pat,  the  hand  of  this  barber  will  do  it ! " 

And  the  King  of  Oolb  peered  on  Baba  Mustapha,  crying, 
"  Even  this  fellow  I  bastinadoed ! " 

And  the  King  of  Gaf,  that  was  Kresnuk,  famous  in  the, 
annals  of  the  time,  said  aloud,  "  I  'm  amazed  at  the  perti- 
nacity of  this  barber !  To  my  court  he  came,  searching 
some  silly  nephew,  and  would  have  shaved  us  all  in  spite  of 
our  noses ;  yea,  talked  my  chief  Vizier  into  a  dead  sleep, 
and  so  thinned  him.  And  there  was  no  safety  from  him 
save  in  thongs  and  stripes  and  lashes  ! " 

Now,  upon  that  the  King  of  the  City  cried,  "  Be  the  will 
of  Allah  achieved,  and  the  inviolacy  of  Shagpat  made  mani- 
fest !  Thou  barber,  thou !  do  thy  worst  to  contaminate  him, 
and  take  the  punishment  in  store  for  thee.  And  if  it  is 
written  thou  succeed,  then  keep  thy  filthy  life :  small  chance 
of  that ! " 

Baba  Mustapha  remembered  the  poet's  words : 

The  abyss  is  worth  a  leap,  however  wide, 
When  life,  sweet  life,  is  on  the  other  side. 

And  he  controlled  himself  to  the  mastery  of  his  members, 
and  stepped  forward  to  essay  once  more  the  Shaving  of 
Shagpat.  Lo,  the  Great  Hall  was  breathless,  nought  heard 
save  the  splashing  of  the  fountain  in  its  fall,  and  the  rustle 
of  the  robe  of  Baba  Mustapha  as  he  aired  his  right  arm, 
hovering  round  Shagpat  like  a  bird  about  the  nest ;  and  he 
was  buzzing  as  a  bee  ere  it  entereth  the  flower,  and  quivered 
like  a  butterfly  when  't  is  fluttering  over  a  blossom ;  and 
Baba  Mustapha  sniffed  at  Shagpat  within  arm's  reach,  fear- 
ing him,  so  that  the  people  began  to  hum  with  a  great  rap- 
ture, and  the  King  Shahpusha'n  cried,  "Aha!  mark  him! 
this  monkey  knoweth  the  fire  ! " 

But  the  King  of  the  City  of  Shagpat  was  wroth,  and  com- 
manded his  guards  to  flourish  their  scimitars,  and  the  keen 
light  cut  the  chords  of  indecision  in  Baba  Mustapha,  and 
drove  him  upon  Shagpat  with  a  dash  of  desperation ;  and 
lo !  he  stretched  his  hand  and  brought  down  the  blade  upon 
the  head  of  Shagpat.  Then  was  the  might  of  Shagpat  made 


234  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

manifest,  for  suddenly  in  his  head  the  Identical  rose  up 
straight,  even  to  a  level  with  the  roof  of  that  hall,  burning 
as  it  had  been  an  angry  flame  of  many  fiery  colours,  and 
Baba  Mustapha  was  hurled  from  him  a  great  space  like  a 
ball  that  reboundeth,  and  he  was  twisting  after  the  fashion 
of  envenomed  serpents,  sprawling  and  spuming,  and  utter- 
ing cries  of  horror.  Surely,  to  see  that  sight  the  four  Kings 
and  the  people  bit  their  forefingers,  and  winked  till  the 
water  stood  in  their  eyes,  and  Kadza,  turning  about,  ex- 
claimed, "This  owe  we  to  the  wise  woman!  where  lurketh 
she  ?  "  So  she  called  about  the  hall,  "  Wise  woman !  wise 
woman  I " 

Now,  when  she  could  find  Noorna  bin  Noorka  nowhere 
in  that  crowd,  she  shrieked  exultingly,  "  JT  was  a  Genie ! 
Wullahy !  all  Afrites,  male  and  female,  are  in  the  service 
of  Shagpat,  my  light,  my  eyes,  my  sun !  I  his  moon  ! " 

Meantime  the  King  of  the  City  called  to  Baba  Mustapha, 
"  Hast  thou  had  enough  of  barbering,  0  vile  one  ?  Ho  !  a 
second  essay  on  the  head  of  Shagpat !  so  shall  the  might 
that 's  in  him  be  indisputable,  bruited  abroad,  and  a  great 
load  upon  the  four  winds." 

Now,  Bf»ba  Mustapha  was  persuaded  by  the  scimitars  of 
the  guard  to  a  second  essay  on  the  head  of  Shagpat,  and  the 
second  time  he  was  shot  away  from  Shagpat  through  the 
crowd  and  great  assemblage  to  the  extreme  end  of  the  hall, 
where  he  lay  writhing  about,  abandoned  in  loathliness ;  and 
he  in  his  despondency,  and  despite  of  protestation  and  the 
slackness  of  his  limbs,  was  pricked  again  by  the  scimitars 
of  the  guard  to  a  third  essay  on  the  head  of  Shagpat,  the 
people  jeering  at  him,  for  they  were  joyous,  light  of  heart; 
and  lo  !  the  third  time  he  was  shot  off  violently,  and  whirled 
away  like  a  stone  from  a  sling,  even  into  the  outer  air  and 
beyond  the  city  walls,  into  the  distance  of  waste  places. 
And  now  a  great  cry  rose  from  the  people,  as  it  were  a  song 
of  triumph,  for  the  Identical  stood  up  wrathfully  from  the 
head  of  Shagpat,  burning  in  brilliance,  blinding  to  look  on, 
he  sitting  inanimate  beneath  it ;  and  it  waxed  in  size  and 
pierced  through  the  roof  of  the  hall,  and  was  a  sight  to  the 
streets  of  the  city ;  and  the  horsemen  camped  without  the 
walls  beheld  it,  and  marvelled,  and  it  was  as  a  pillar  of  fire 
to  the  solitudes  of  the  Desert  afar,  and  the  wild  Arab  and 


THE  BURNING   OF  THE   IDENTICAL  235 

wandering  Bedouins  and  caravans  of  pilgrimage.  Distant 
cities  asked  the  reason  of  that  appearance,  and  the  cunning 
fakir  interpreted  it,  and  the  fervent  dervish  expounded 
from  it,  and  messengers  flew  from  gate  to  gate  and  from 
land  to  land  in  exultation,  and  barbers  hid  their  heads  and 
were  friendly  with  the  fox  in  his  earth,  because  of  that 
light.  So  the  Identical  burned  on  the  head  of  Shagpat  as 
in  wrath,  and  with  exceeding  splendour  of  attraction,  three 
nights  and  three  days ;  and  the  fishes  of  the  sea  shoaled  to 
the  sea's  surface  and  stared  at  it,  and  the  fowls  of  the  air 
congregated  about  the  fury  of  the  light  with  screams  and 
mad  flutters,  till  the  streets  and  mosques  and  minarets  and 
bright  domes  and  roofs  and  cupolas  of  the  City  of  Shagpat 
were  blackened  with  scorched  feathers  of  the  vulture  and 
the  eagle  and  the  rook  and  the  raven  and  the  hawk,  and 
other  birds,  sacred  and  obscene ;  so  was  the  triumph  of 
Shagpat  made  manifest  to  men  and  the  end  of  the  world  by 
the  burning  of  the  Identical  three  days  and  three  nights. 


THE  FLASHES  OP  THE  BLADE 

Now,  it  was  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  and  lo  1  at 
the  first  leap  of  the  sun  of  that  day  the  flame  of  the  Iden- 
tical abated  in  its  fierceness,  and  it  dwindled  and  darkened, 
and  tapered  and  flickered  feebly,  descending  from  its  alti- 
tude in  the  heavens  and  through  the  ceiling  of  the  Hall, 
and  lay  down  to  sleep  among  the  intricate  lengths  and  friz- 
zled convolutions  and  undulating  weights  flowing  from 
Shagpat,  an  undistinguished  hair,  even  as  the  common 
hairs  of  his  head.  So,  upon  that,  the  four  fasting  Kings 
breathed,  and  from  the  people  of  the  City  there  went  up  a 
mighty  shout  of  gladness  and  congratulation  at  the  glory 
they  had  witnessed ;  and  they  took  the  air  deeply  into  their 
chests,  and  were  as  divers  that  have  been  long  fathom  s- 
deep  under  water,  and  ascend  and  puff  hard  and  press  the 
water  from  their  eyes,  that  yet  refuse  to  acknowledge  with 
a  recognition  the  things  tbat  be  and  the  sights  above,  so 
mazed  are  they  with  those  unmentionable  marvels  and  treas- 
ures and  profusion  of  jewels,  and  splendid  lazy  growths 
and  lavish  filmy  illuminations,  and  multitudinous  pearls 
and  sheening  shells,  that  lie  heaped  in  the  beds  of  the 
ocean.  As  the  poet  has  said : 


After  too  strong  a  beam. 
Too  bright  a  glory, 

We  ask,  Is  this  a  dream 
Or  magic  story  ? 


And  he  says : 


When  I  've  had  rapturous  visions  such  as  make 
The  sun  turn  pale,  and  suddenly  awake, 
Long  must  I  pull  at  memory  in  this  beard, 
Ere  I  remember  men  and  things  revered. 

So  was  it  with  the  people  of  the  City,  and  they  stood  in 
the  Hall  and  winked  staringly  at  one  another,  shouting  and 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE         237 

dancing  at  intervals,  capering  with  mad  gravity,  exclaiming 
on  the  greatness  of  that  they  had  witnessed.  And  Zeel 
the  garlic-seller  fell  upon  Dob  the  confectioner,  and  cried, 
"  Was  this  so,  0  Dob  ?  Wullahy !  this  glory,  was  it  verily  ?  " 
And  Dob  peered  dimly  upon  Zeel,  whispering  solemnly, 
"  Say,  now,  art  thou  of  a  surety  that  Zeel  the  garlic-seller 
known  to  me,  my  boon-fellow?"  And  the  twain  turned  to 
Sallap  the  broker,  and  exchanged  interjections  with  him, 
and  with  Azawool  the  builder,  and  with  Krooz  el  Kraza- 
wik  the  carrier;  and  they  accosted  Bootlbac  the  drum- 
beater,  where  he  stood  apart,  drumming  the  air  as  to  a 
march  of  triumph,  and  no  word  would  he  utter,  neither 
to  Zeel,  nor  to  Sallap,  nor  to  Krooz  el  Krazawik,  nor  to 
Azawool  his  neighbour,  nor  to  any  present,  but  continued 
drumming  on  the  air  rapidly  as  in  answer,  increasing  in  the 
swiftness  of  his  drumming  till  it  was  a  rage  to  mark  him, 
and  the  excitement  about  Bootlbac  became  as  a  mad  eddy 
in  the  midst  of  a  mighty  stream,  he  drumming  the  air  with 
exceeding  swiftness  to  various  measures,  beating  before 
him  as  on  the  tightened  skin,  lost  to  all  presences  save  the 
Identical  and  Shagpat.  So  they  edged  away  from  Bootlbac 
in  awe,  saying,  "  He 's  inspired,  Bootlbac  !  't  is  the  triumph 
of  Shagpat  he  drummeth."  They  feigned  to  listen  to  him 
till  their  ears  deceived  them,  and  they  rejoiced  in  the  velo- 
city of  the  soundless  tune  of  Bootlbac  the  drum-beater,  and 
were  stirred  by  it,  excited  to  a  forgetfulness  of  their  fast- 
ing. Such  was  the  force  of  the  inspiration  of  Bootlbac 
the  drum-beater,  caused  by  the  burning  of  the  Identical. 

Now,  the  four  Kings,  when  they  had  mastered  their  wits, 
gazed  in  silence  on  Shagpat,  and  sighed  and  shook  their 
heads,  and  were  as  they  that  have  swallowed  a  potent 
draught  and  ponder  sagely  over  the  gulp.  Surely,  the  vis- 
ages of  the  Kings  of  Shiraz  and  of  G§,f  and  of  Oolb  be- 
tokened dread  of  Shagpat  and  amazement  at  him ;  but  the 
King  of  the  City  exulted,  and  the  shining  of  content  was 
on  his  countenance,  and  he  cried,  "  Wondrous  1 "  and  again, 
"Wullahy,  wondrous!"  and  "Oh,  glory!  "  And  he  laughed 
and  clucked  and  chuckled,  and  the  triumph  of  Shagpat  was 
to  him  as  a  new  jewel  in  his  crown  outshining  all  others, 
and  he  was  for  awhile  as  the  cock  smitten  with  the  pride 
of  his  comb,  the  peacock  magnified  by  admiration  of  his 


238  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAQPAT 

tail.  Then  he  cried,  "For  this,  praise  we  Allah  and  the 
Prophet.  Wullahy,  't  was  wondrous  ! "  and  he  went  off 
again  into  a  roll  of  duckings  and  chucklings  and  exclama- 
tions of  delight,  crying,  "  Need  they  further  proof  of  the 
power  in  Shagpat  now?  Has  he  not  manifested  it?  So 
true  is  that  saying  — 

'  The  friend  that  flattereth  weaken  eth  at  length ; 
It  is  the  foe  that  calleth  forth  our  strength.' 

Wondrous  !  and  never  knew  earth  a  thing  to  equal  it  in 
the  range  of  marvels!" 

Now,  ere  the  last  word  was  spoken  by  the  King,  there 
passed  through  the  sky  a  mighty  flash.  Those  in  the  Hall 
saw  it,  and  the  horsemen  of  the  three  cities  encamped 
without  the  walls  were  nigh  blinded  by  the  keenness  of  its 
blaze.  So  they  looked  into  the  height,  and  saw  straight 
over  the  City  a  speck  of  cloud,  but  no  thunder  came  from 
it ;  and  the  King  cried,  "  These  be  Genii !  the  issue  of  this 
miracle  is  yet  to  come!  look  for  it,  and  exult."  Then 
he  turned  to  the  other  Kings,  but  they  were  leaning  to 
right  and  left  in  their  seats,  as  do  the  intoxicated,  without 
strength  to  answer  his  questioning.  So  he  exclaimed,  "  A 
curse  on  my  head !  have  1  forgotten  the  laws  of  hospitality? 
my  cousins  are  famished  !  "  He  was  giving  orders  for  the 
spreading  of  a  sumptuous  banquet  when  there  passed 
through  the  sky  another  mighty  flash.  They  awaited  the 
thunder  this  time  confidently,  yet  none  came.  Suddenly 
the  King  exclaimed,  "'Tis  the  wrath  of  Shagpat  that  his 
assailants  remain  uncastigated ! "  Then  cried  he  to  the 
eunuchs  of  the  guard,  "  Hither  with  Feshnavat,  the  son  of 
Feil!"  And  the  King  said  to  Feshnavat,  "Thou  plotter! 
envious  of  Shagpat !  "  Here  the  King,  Kresnuk,  fell  for- 
ward at  the  feet  of  Shagpat  from  sheer  inanition,  and  the 
King  of  the  City  ordered  instantly  wines  and  viands  to  be 
brought  into  the  Hall,  and  commenced  saying  to  Feshnavat, 
in  the  words  of  the  wise  entablature  — 

* '  Of  reckless  mercy  thus  the  Sage  declared : 
More  culpable  the  sparer  than  the  spared  ; 
For  he  that  breaks  one  law,  breaks  one  alone : 
But  who  thwarts  Justice  flouts  Law's  sovereign  throne.' 

And  have  I  not  been  over-merciful  in  thy  case  ?  n 


THE  FLASHES  OP  THE  BLADE         239 

As  the  King  was  haranguing  Feshnavat,  his  nostril  took 
in  the  steam  of  the  viands  and  the  fresh  odours  of  the  wines, 
and  he  could  delay  no  longer  to  satisfy  his  craving,  but 
caught  up  the  goblet,  and  drank  from  it  till  his  visage 
streamed  the  tears  of  contentment.  Lo,  while  he  put  forth 
his  hand  tremblingly,  as  to  continue  the  words  of  his  con- 
demnation of  the  Vizier,  the  heavens  were  severed  by  a  third 
flash,  one  exceeding  in  fierceness  the  other  flashes ;  and  now 
the  Great  Hall  rocked,  and  the  pillars  and  thrones  trembled, 
and  the  eyes  of  Shagpat  opened.  He  made  no  motion,  but 
sat  like  a  wonder  of  stone,  looking  before  him.  Surely, 
Kadza  shrieked,  and  rushed  forward  to  him  from  the  crowd, 
yet  he  said  nothing,  and  was  as  one  frozen.  So  the  King 
cried,  "  He  waketh !  the  flashes  preceded  his  wakening ! 
Now  shall  he  see  the  vengeance  of  kings  on  his  enemies." 
Thereupon  he  made  a  signal,  and  the  scimitars  of  the  guard 
were  in  air  over  the  head  of  Feshnavat,  when  darkness 
as  of  the  dropping  of  night  fell  upon  all,  and  the  darkness 
spake,  saying,  "I  am  Abarak  of  the  Bar,  preceder  of  the 
Event ! " 

Then  it  was  light,  but  the  ears  of  every  soul  present  were 
pierced  with  the  wailing  of  wild  animals,  and  on  all  sides 
from  the  Desert  hundreds  of  them  were  seen  making  toward 
the  City,  some  swiftly,  others  at  a  heavy  pace ;  and  when 
they  were  come  near  they  crouched  and  fawned,  and  dropped 
their  dry  tongues  as  in  awe.  There  was  the  serpent,  meek 
as  before  the  days  of  sin,  and  the  leopard  slinking  to  get 
among  the  legs  of  men,  and  the  lion  canie  trundling  along 
in  utter  flabbiness,  raising  not  his  head.  Soon  the  streets 
were  thronged  with  elephants  and  lions  and  sullen  tigers,  and 
wild  cats  and  wolves,  not  a  tail  erect  among  them :  great 
was  the  marvel !  So  the  King  cried,  "  We  're  in  the  thick 
of  wonders ;  banquet  we  lightly  while  they  increase  upon 
us !  What 's  yonder  little  man?  "  This  was  Abarak  that 
stood  before  the  King,  and  exclaimed,  "  I  am  the  darkness 
that  announceth  the  mastery  of  the  Event,  as  a  shadow  be- 
fore the  sun's  approach,  and  it  is  the  Shaving  of  Shagpat ! " 
The  world  darkened  before  the  eyes  of  the  King  when  he 
heard  this,  and  in  a  moment  Abarak  was  clutched  by  the 
soldiers  of  the  guard,  and  dragged  beside  Feshnavat  to  await 
the  final  blow;  and  this  would  have  parted  two  heads  from 


240  THE  SHAVING  OP  SHAGPAT 

two  bodies  at  one  stroke,  but  now  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
entered  the  hall,  veiled  and  in  the  bright  garb  of  a  bride, 
with  veiled  attendants  about  her,  and  the  people  opened  to 
give  her  passage  to  the  throne  of  the  King.  So  she  said, 
"Delay  the  stroke  yet  awhile,  0  Head  of  the  Magnanimous ! 
I  am  she  claimed  by  Shagpat;  surely,  I  am  bride  of  him 
that  is  Master  of  the  Event,  and  the  hour  of  bridals  is  the 
hour  of  clemency." 

The  King  looked  at  Shagpat,  perplexed ;  but  the  eye  of 
Shagpat  gazed  as  into  the  distance  of  another  world.  Then 
said  he,  "  We  shall  hear  nought  from  the  mouth  of  Shagpat 
till  he  is  avenged,  and  till  then  he  is  silent  with  exceeding 
wrath."  Hearing  this,  Noorna  ran  quickly  to  a  window  of 
the  hall,  and  let  loose  a  white  dove  from  her  bosom. 

Then  came  there  that  flash  which  is  recorded  in  old  tradi- 
tions as  the  fourth  of  the  flashes  of  thunderless  lightnings, 
after  the  passing  of  which,  hundreds  of  fakirs  that  had  been 
awaiting  it  saw  nothing  further  on  this  earth.  Down 
through  the  Hall  it  swept ;  and  lo  !  when  the  Kings  and  the 
people  recovered  their  sight  to  regard  Shagpat,  he  was,  one 
side  of  him,  clean  shorn,  the  shaven  side  shining  as  the  very 
moon! 

Surely  from  that  moment  there  was  no  longer  aught 
mortal  in  the  combat  that  ensued.  For  now,  while  amaze- 
ment and  horror  palsied  all  present,  the  Genie  Karaz,  utter- 
ing a  howl  of  fury,  shot  down  the  length  of  the  Hall  like  a 
black  storm-bolt,  and  caught  up  Shagpat,  and  whirled  off 
with  him  into  the  air;  and  they  beheld  him  dive  and  dodge 
the  lightnings  that  beset  him  from  upper  heaven,  catching 
Shagpat  from  them,  now  by  the  heels,  now  by  the  hair  re- 
maining one  side  his  head.  This  lasted  a  full  hour,  when 
the  Genie  paused  a  second,  and  made  a  sheer  descent  into 
the  earth.  Then  saw  they  the  wings  of  Koorookh,  each  a 
league  in  length,  overshadow  the  entire  land,  and  on  the 
neck  of  the  bird  sat  Shilbli  Bagarag  cleaving  through  the 
earth  with  his  blade,  and  he  sat  on  Koorookh  as  the  moon 
sits  on  the  midnight.  There  was  no  light  save  the  light 
shed  abroad  by  the  flashes  of  the  blade,  and  in  these  they 
beheld  the  air  suffocated  with  Afrites  and  Genii  in  a  red  and 
brown  and  white  heat,  followers  of  Karaz.  Strokes  of  the 
blade  clove  them,  and  their  blood  was  fire  that  flowed  over 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE         241 

the  feathers  of  Koorookh,  lighting  him  in  a  conflagration ; 
but  the  bird  flew  constantly  to  a  fountain  of  earth  below 
and  extinguished  it.  Then  the  battle  recommenced,  and  the 
solid  earth  yawned  at  the  gashes  made  by  the  mighty  blade, 
and  its  depths  revealed  how  Karaz  was  flying  with  Shagpat 
from  circle  to  circle  of  the  under-regions,  hurrying  with  him 
downward  to  the  lowest  circle,  that  was  flaming  to  points, 
like  the  hair  of  vast  heads.  Presently  they  saw  a  wondrous 
quivering  flash  divide  the  Genie,  and  his  heels  and  head  fell 
together  in  the  abysses,  leaving  Shagpat  prone  on  great 
brasiers  of  penal  flame.  Then  the  blade  made  another  hiss- 
ing sweep  over  Shagpat,  leaving  little  of  the  wondrous 
growths  on  him  save  a  topknot. 

But  now  was  the  hour  struck  when  Rabesqurat  could  be 
held  no  longer  serving  the  ferry  in  Aklis ;  and  the  terrible 
Queen  streamed  in  the  sky,  like  a  red  disastrous  comet,  and 
dived,  eagle-like,  into  the  depths,  re-ascending  with  Shagpat 
in  her  arms,  cherishing  him ;  and  lo,  there  were  suddenly  a 
thousand  Shagpats  multiplied  about,  and  the  hand  of  Shibli 
Bagarag  became  exhausted  with  hewing  at  them.  The 
scornful  laugh  of  the  Queen  was  heard  throughout  earth  as 
she  triumphed  over  Shibli  Bagarag  with  hundreds  of  Shag- 
pats,  Illusions ;  and  he  knew  not  where  to  strike  at  the 
Shagpat,  and  was  losing  all  sleight  of  hand,  dexterity,  and 
cunning.  Noorna  shrieked,  thinking  him  lost ;  but  Abarak 
seized  his  bar,  and  leaning  it  in  the  direction  of  Aklis,  blew 
a  pellet  from  it  that  struck  on  the  eye  of  Aklis,  and  this 
sent  out  a  stretching  finger  of  beams,  and  singled  forth 
very  Shagpat  from  the  myriads  of  semblances,  so  that  he 
glowed  and  was  ruddy,  the  rest  cowering  pale,  and  dissolv- 
ing like  salt-grains  in  water. 

Then  saw  earth  and  its  inhabitants  how  the  Genie  Karaz 
re-ascended  in  the  shape  of  a  vulture  with  a  fire-beak,  peck- 
ing at  the  eyes  of  him  that  wielded  the  Sword,  so  that  he 
was  bewildered  and  shook  this  way  and  that  over  the  neck 
of  Koorookh,  striking  wildly,  languidly  cleaving  towers  and 
palaces,  and  monuments  of  earth  underneath  him.  Now, 
Shibli  Bagarag  discerned  his  danger,  and  considered,  "  The 
power  of  the  Sword  is  to  sever  brains  and  thoughts.  Great 
is  Allah !  I  '11  seek  my  advantage  in  that." 

So  he  whirled  Koorookh  thrice  in  the  crimson  smoke  of 


242  THE  SHAVING   OP   SHAGPAT 

the  atmosphere,  and  put  the  blade  between  the  first  and 
second  thought  in  the  head  of  Rabesqurat,  whereby  the 
sense  of  the  combat  became  immediately  confused  in  her 
mind,  and  she  used  her  powers  as  the  fool  does,  equally 
against  all,  for  the  sake  of  mischief  solely  —  no  longer  mis- 
tress of  her  own  Illusions ;  land  she  began  doubling  and 
trebling  Shibli  Bagarag  on  the  neck  of  monstrous  birds, 
speeding  in  draggled  flightiness  from  one  point  of  the  sky 
to  another.  Even  in  the  terror  of  the  combat,  Shibli  Baga- 
rag  was  fain  to  burst  into  a  fit  of  violent  laughter  at  the 
sight  of  the  Queen  wagging  her  neck  loosely,  perking  it  like 
a  mad  raven ;  and  he  took  heart,  and  swept  the  blade  rapidly 
over  Shagpat  as  she  dandled  him,  leaving  Shagpat  but  one 
hair  remaining  on  him;  yet  was  that  the7  Identical;  and  it 
arose,  and  was  a  serpent  in  his  head,  and  from  its  jaws  issued 
a  river  of  fiery  serpents :  these  and  a  host  of  Af  rites  besieged 
Shibli  Bagarag ;  and  now,  to  defend  himself,  he  unloosed  the 
twin  Genii,  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh,  from  the  wrist  of 
that  hand  which  wielded  the  Sword  of  Aklis,  and  these  alter- 
nately interwound  before  and  about  him,  and  were  even  as  a 
glittering  armour  of  emerald  plates,  warding  from  him  the 
assaults  of  the  host ;  and,  lo !  he  flew,  and  the  battle  fol- 
lowed him  over  blazing  cities  and  lands  on  fire  with  the 
slanting  hail  of  sparkles. 

By  this  time  every  soul  in  the  City  of  Shagpat,  kings  and 
people,  all  save  Abarak  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  were  over- 
come and  prostrate  with  their  faces  to  the  ground ;  but 
Koorna  watched  the  conflict  eagerly,  and  saw  the  head  oi 
Shagpat  sprouting  incessant  fresh  crops  of  hair,  despite  the 
pertinacious  shearing  of  her  betrothed.  Then  she  smote 
her  hands,  and  cried,  "  Yea !  though  I  lose  my  beauty  and 
the  love  of  my  betrothed,  I  must  join  in  this,  or  he  '11  be 
Jost."  So,  saying  to  Abarak,  "  Watch  over  me,"  she  went 
into  the  air,  and,  as  she  passed  Rabesqurat,  was  multiplied 
into  twenty  damsels  of  loveliness.  Then  Abarak  beheld  a 
scorpion  following  the  twenty  in  mid-air,  and  darting  stings 
among  them.  Noorna  tossed  a  ring,  and  it  fell  in  a  circle 
of  flame  round  the  scorpion.  So,  while  the  scorpion  was 
shooting  in  squares  to  escape  from  the  circle,  the  fire-beaked 
vulture  flew  to  it,  and  fluttered  a  dense  rain  which  swal- 
lowed the  flame,  and  the  scorpion  and  vulture  assailed 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE         243 

Noorna,  that  was  changed  to  a  golden  hawk  in  the  midst  of 
nineteen  other  golden  hawks.  Now,  as  Rabesqurat  came 
scudding  by,  and  saw  the  encounter,  she  made  the  twenty 
hawks  a  hundred.  The  Genie  Karaz  howled  at  her,  and 
pinioned  her  to  a  pillar  below  in  the  Desert,  with  Shagpat 
in  her  arms.  But,  as  he  soared  aloft  to  renew  the  fight 
with  Noorna,  Shibli  Bagarag  loosed  to  her  aid  the  Slaves  of 
the  Sword,  and  Abarak  marked  him  slope  to  a  distant  cor- 
ner of  earth,  and  re-ascend  in  a  cloud,  which  drew  swiftly 
over  the  land  toward  the  Great  Hall.  Lo,  Shibli  Bagarag 
stepped  from  it  through  a  casement  of  the  Hall,  and  with 
him  Shagpat,  a  slack  weight,  mazed  out  of  all  power  of  mo- 
tion. Koorookh  swooped  low,  on  his  back  Baba  Mustapha, 
and  Shibli  Bagarag  flung  Abarak  beside  him  on  the  bird. 
Then  Koorookh  whirred  off  with  them ;  and  while  the 
heavens  raged,  Shibli  Bagarag  prepared  a  rapid  lather,  and 
dashed  it  over  Shagpat,  and  commenced  shearing  him  with 
lightning  sweeps  of  the  blade.  'T  was  as  a  racing  wheel 
of  fire  to  see  him !  Suddenly  he  desisted,  and  wiped  the 
sweat  from  bis  face.  Then  calling  on  the  name  of  Allah, 
he  gave  a  last  keen  cunning  sweep  with  the  blade,  and  fol- 
lowing that,  the  earth  awfully  quaked  and  groaned,  as  if 
speaking  in  the  abysmal  tongue  the  Mastery  of  the  Event 
to  all  men.  Aklis  was  revealed  in  burning  beams  as  of  a 
sun,  and  the  trouble  of  the  air  ceased,  vapours  slowly  curl- 
ing to  the  four  quarters.  Shibli  Bagarag  had  smitten  clean 
through  the  Identical !  Terribly  had  Noorna  and  those  that 
aided  her  been  oppressed  by  the  multitude  of  their  enemies ; 
but,  in  a  moment  these  melted  away,  and  Karaz,  together 
with  the  scorpion  that  was  Goorelka,  vanished.  Day  was 
on  the  baldness  of  Shagpat. 


CONCLUSION 

So  was  shaved  Shagpat,  the  son  of  Shimpoor,  the  son  of 
Shoolpi,  the  son  of  Shullum,  by  Shibli  Bagarag,  of  Shiraz, 
according  to  preordainment. 

The  chronicles  relate,  that  no  sooner  had  he  mastered  the 
Event,  than  men  on  the  instant  perceived  what  illusion  had 
beguiled  them,  and,  in  the  words  of  the  poet,  — 

The  blush  with  which  their  folly  they  confess 
Is  the  first  prize  of  his  supreme  success. 

Even  Bootlbac,  the  drum-beater,  drummed  in  homage  to 
him,  and  the  four  Kings  were  they  that  were  loudest  in 
their  revilings  of  the  spouse  of  Kadza,  and  most  obsequious 
in  praises  of  the  Master.  The  King  of  the  City  was  fain  to 
propitiate  his  people  by  a  voluntary  resignation  of  his 
throne  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  that  King  took  well  to  heart 
the  wisdom  of  the  sage,  when  he  says : 

Power,  on  Illusion  based,  o'ertoppeth  all; 
The  more  disastrous  is  its  certain  fall ! 

Surely  Shibli  Bagarag  returned  the  Sword  to  the  Sons  of 
Aklis,  flashing  it  in  midnight  air,  and  they,  with  the  others, 
did  reverence  to  his  achievement.  They  were  now  released 
from  the  toil  of  sharpening  the  Sword  a  half-cycle  of  years, 
to  wander  in  delight  on  the  fair  surface  of  the  flowery 
earth,  breathing  its  roses,  wooing  its  brides ;  for  the  mas- 
tery of  an  Event  lasteth  among  men  the  space  of  one  cycle 
of  years,  and  after  that  a  fresh  Illusion  springeth  to  befool 
mankind,  and  the  Seven  must  expend  the  concluding  half- 
cycle  in  preparing  the  edge  of  the  Sword  for  a  new  mastery. 
As  the  poet  declareth  in  his  scorn : 


CONCLUSION  245 


Some  doubt  Eternity :  from  life  begun, 
Has  folly  ceased  within  them,  sire  to  son  1 
So  ever  fresh  Illusions  will  arise 
And  lord  creation,  until  men  are  wise. 

And  he  adds : 

That  is  a  distant  period ;  so  prepare 
To  fight  the  false,  O  youths,  and  never  spare ! 
For  who  would  live  in  chronicles  renowned 
Must  combat  folly,  or  as  fool  be  crowned. 

Now,  for  the  Kings  of  Shiraz  and  of  Gaf,  Shibli  Bagarag 
entertained  them  in  honour  ;  but  the  King  of  Oolb  he  dis 
graced  and  stripped  of  his  robes,  to  invest  Baba  Mustapha 
in  those  royal  emblems  —  a  punishment  to  the  treachery  of 
the  King  of  Oolb,  as  is  said  by  Aboo  Ezn61 : 

When  nations  with  opposing  forces,  rash, 

Shatter  each  other,  thou  that  wouldst  have  stood 
Apart  to  profit  by  the  monstrous  feud, 

Thou  art  the  surest  victim  of  the  crash. 

Take  colours  of  whichever  side  thou  wilt, 

And  steadfastly  thyself  in  battle  range ; 

Yet,  having  taken,  shouldst  thou  dare  to  change, 
Suspicion  hunts  thee  as  a  thing  of  guilt. 

Baba  Mustapha  was  pronounced  Sovereign  of  Oolb,  amid 
the  acclamations  of  the  guard  encamped  under  the  com- 
mand of  Eavaloke,  without  the  walls. 

No  less  did  Shibli  Bagarag  honour  the  benefactor  of 
Noorna,  making  him  chief  of  his  armies  ;  and  he,  with  his 
own  hand,  bestowed  on  the  good  old  warrior  the  dress  of 
honour  presented  to  him  by  the  Seven  Sons,  charactered 
with  all  the  mysteries  of  Aklis,  a  marvel  lost  to  men  in  the 
failure  to  master  the  Illusion  now  dominating  earth. 

So,  then,  of  all  that  had  worshipped  Shagpat,  only  Kadza 
clung  to  him,  and  she  departed  with  him  into  the  realms  of 
Rabesqurat,  who  reigned  there,  divided  against  herself  by 
the  stroke  of  the  Sword.  The  Queen  is  no  longer  mighty, 
for  the  widening  of  her  power  has  weakened  it,  she  being 
now  the  mistress  of  the  single-thoughted,  and  them  that 
follow  one  idea  to  the  exclusion  of  a  second.  The  failure 
in  the  unveiling  of  her  last-cherished  Illusion  was  in  tb.0 


246  THE  SHAVING  OF   SHAGPAT 

succumbing  frailty  of  him  that  undertook  the  task,  the 
world  and  its  wise  men  having  come  to  the  belief  that  in 
thwackings  there  was  ignominy  to  the  soul  of  man,  and  a 
tarnish  on  the  lustre  of  heroes.  On  that  score,  hear  the 
words  of  the  poet,  a  vain  protest : 

Ye  that  nourish  hopes  of  fame ! 

Ye  who  would  be  known  in  song ! 
Ponder  old  history,  and  duly  frame 
Your  souls  to  meek  acceptance  of  the  thong. 

Lo !  of  hundreds  who  aspire, 

Eighties  perish  —  nineties  tire ! 
They  who  bear  up,  in  spite  of  wrecks  and  wracks, 
Were  season 'd  by  celestial  hail  of  thwacks. 

Fortune  in  this  mortal  race 

Builds  on  thwackings  for  its  base ; 
Thus  the  All- Wise  doth  make  a  flail  a  staff, 
And  separates  his  heavenly  corn  from  chaff. 

Think  ye,  had  he  never  known 

Noorna  a  belabouring  crone, 
Shihli  Bagarag  would  have  shaved  Shagpat  ? 
The  unthwack'd  lives  in  chronicle  a  rat  1 

'T  is  the  thwacking  in  this  den 

Maketh  lions  of  true  men ! 
So  are  we  nerved  to  hreak  the  clinging  mesh 
Which  tames  the  noblest  efforts  of  poor  flesh. 

Feshnavat  became  the  Master's  Vizier,  and  Abarak  re- 
mained at  the  right  hand  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  his  slave  in 
great  adventure.  No  other  condition  than  bondage  gave 
peace  to  Abarak.  He  was  of  the  class  enumerated  by  the 
sage: 

Who,  with  the  strength  of  giants,  are  but  tools, 
The  weighty  hands  which  serve  selected  fools. 

Now,  this  was  how  it  was  in  the  case  of  Baba  Mustapha, 
and  the  four  Kings,  and  Feshnavat,  and  Abarak,  and  Rava- 
loke,  and  Kadza,  together  with  Shagpat;  but,  in  the  case 
of  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  surely  she  was  withering  from  a 
sting  of  the  scorpion  shot  against  her  bosom,  but  the  Seven 
Sons  of  Aklis  gave  her  a  pass  into  Aklis  on  the  wings  of 
Koorookh,  and  Gulrevaz,  the  daughter  of  Aklis,  tended 
her,  she  that  was  alone  capable  of  restoring  her,  and  coun- 


CONCLUSION  2147 

teracting  tne  malice  of  the  scorpion  by  the  hand  of  purity. 
So  Noorna  prospered;  but  Shibli  Bagarag  drooped  in  un- 
certainty of  her  state,  and  was  as  a  reaper  in  a  field  of 
harvest,  around  whom  lie  the  yellow  sheaves,  and  the 
brown  beam  of  autumn  on  his  head,  the  blaze  of  plenty ; 
yet  is  he  joyless  and  stands  musing,  for  one  is  away  who> 
should  be  there,  and  without  whom  the  goblet  of  Success 
giveth  an  unsweetened  draught,  and  there  is  nothing  pleas- 
ant in  life,  and  the  flower  on  the  summit  of  achievement  is 
blighted.  At  last,  as  he  was  listlessly  dispensing  justice 
in  the  Great  Hall,  seven  days  after  the  mastery  of  the 
Event,  lo,  Noorna  in  air,  borne  by  Gulrevaz!  she  fair  and 
fresh  in  the  revival  of  health  and  beauty,  and  the  light  of 
constant  love.  Of  her  entry  into  the  Great  Hall,  to  the 
embrace  of  her  betrothed,  the  poet  exclaims,  picturing  her 
in  a  rapture : 

Her  march  is  music,  and  my  soul  obeys 

Each  motion,  as  a  lute  to  cunning  fingers : 
I  see  the  earth  throb  for  her  as  she  sways 

Wave-like  in  air,  aud  like  a  great  flower  lingers 
Heavily  over  all,  as  loath  to  leave 
What  loves  her  so,  and  for  her  loss  would  grieve. 

But  oh,  what  other  hand  than  heaven's  can  paint 

Her  eyes,  and  that  black  bow  from  which  their  lightning 

Pierces  afar !  long  lustrous  eyes,  that  faint 

In  languor,  or  with  stormy  passion  brightening: 

Within  them  world  in  world  lights  up  from  sleep, 

And  gives  a  glimpse  of  the  eternal  deep. 

Sigh  round  her,  odorous  winds ;  and,  envious  roca, 

So  vainly  envious,  with  such  blushes  gifted, 
Bow  to  her ;  die,  strangled  with  jealous  throes, 

O  Bulbnl !  when  she  sings  with  brow  uplifted ; 
Gather  her,  happy  youth,  and  for  thy  gain 
Thank  Him  who  could  such  loveliness  ordain. 

Surely  the  Master  of  the  Event  advanced  to  her  in  the 
glory  of  a  Sultan,  and  seated  her  beside  him  in  majesty, 
and  their  contract  of  marriage  was  read  aloud  in  the  Hall, 
and  witnessed,  and  sealed :  joyful  was  he  1  Then  com- 
menced that  festival  which  lasted  forty  days,  and  is  termed 
the  Festival  of  the  honours  of  hospitality  to  the  Sons  of 
Aklis,  wherein  the  head-cook  of  the  palace,  Uruish,  per- 
formed wonders  in  his  science,  and  menaced  the  renown  of 


248  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Zrmack,  the  head-cook  of  King  Shamshureen.  Even  so 
the  confectioner,  Dob,  excelled  himself  in  devices  and  in- 
ventions, and  his  genius  urged  him  to  depict  in  sugars  and 
pastes  the  entire  adventures  of  Shibli  Bagarag  in  search 
of  the  Sword.  Honour  we  Uruish  and  Dob !  as  the  poet 
say  eth : 

Divide  not  this  fraternal  twain  ; 
One  are  they,  and  one  should  for  ever  remain : 
As  to  sweet  close  in  fine  music  we  look, 
So  the  Confectioner  follows  the  Cook. 

And  one  of  the  Sons  of  Aklis,  Zaragal,  beholding  this 
masterpiece  of  Dob,  which  was  served  to  the  guests  in  the 
Great  Hall  on  the  fortieth  evening,  was  fain  to  exclaim  in 
extemporaneous  verse: 

Have  I  been  wafted  to  a  rise 
Of  banquet  spread  in  Paradise, 
DowerM  with  consuming  powers  divine  — 
That  I,  who  have  not  fail'd  to  dine, 

And  greatly, 
Fall  thus  upon  the  cates  and  wine 

Sedately? 

So  there  was  feasting  in  the  Hall,  and  in  the  City,  and 
over  Earth ;  great  pledging  the  Sovereign  of  Barbers,  who 
had  mastered  an  Event,  and  become  the  benefactor  of  his 
craft  and  of  his  kind.  'T  is  certain  the  race  of  the  Bag- 
arags  endured  for  many  centuries,  and  his  seed  were  the 
rulers  of  men,  and  the  seal  of  their  empire  stamped  on 
mighty  wax  the  Tackle  of  Barbers. 

Now,  of  the  promise  made  by  the  Sons  of  Aklis  to  visit 
Shibli  Bagarag  before  their  compulsory  return  to  the  labour 
of  the  Sword,  and  recount  to  him  the  marvel  of  their  ante- 
cedent adventures ;  and  of  the  love  and  grief  nourished  in 
the  souls  of  men  by  the  beauty  and  sorrowful  eyes  of 
Gulrevaz,  that  was  named  the  Bleeding  Lily,  and  of  her 
engagement  to  tell  her  story,  on  condition  of  receiving  the 
first-born  of  Noorna  to  nurse  for  a  season  in  Aklis  ;  and  of 
Shibli  Bagarag*s  restoration  of  towns  and  monuments  de- 
stroyed by  his  battle  with  Karaz ;  and  of  the  constancy  of 
passion  of  Shibli  Bagarag  for  Noorna,  and  his  esteem  for 
her  sweetness,  and  his  reverence  for  her  wisdom  j  and  of 


CONCLUSION  249 

the  glory  of  his  reign,  and  of  the  Songs  and  Sentences  of 
Noorna,  and  of  his  Laws  for  the  protection  and  upholding 
of  women,  in  honour  of  Noorna,  concerning  which  the 
Sage  has  said : 

Were  men  once  dad  in  them,  we  should  create 
A  race  not  following,  bat  commanding,  fate : 

—  of  all  these  records,  and  of  the  reign  of  Baba  Mustapha 
in  Oolb,  surely  the  chronicles  give  them  in  fulness ;  and 
they  that  have  searched  say  of  them,  there  is  mattei 
therein  for  the  amusement  of  generations. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY,  LOS  ANGELES 

COLLEGE  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Book  Slip-25m-7,'61  (0143784)4280 


UCLA-Co<tege  Library 

PR  5006  S53  1898 


L  005  728  312  9 


College 
Library 


PR 
*<X 
SS- 
1398 


